United Nations Global and Online Volunteering Program

The UN Volunteers is offering the opportunity for people from all around the world to be part of its volunteering program for 6 to 12 months. 

When assignments arise, UNV searches in the Global Talent Pool for profiles that match the requirements of the job. Matching candidates are contacted and given the specific details of the assignment, after which they can confirm their interest and availability. A short-list of available candidates is drawn up and a selection process follows.

Only when there are difficult, highly specialized or high-volume assignments, for example after a natural disaster or in the aftermath of a conflict, do the UNV advertises them on their website, as well as via professional associations and social media. But even in these cases, candidates still must be registered in the Global Talent Pool.

Voluntary work includes:

• Volunteering abroad.
• Volunteering in your country.
• Volunteering online.

Allowances

The purpose of allowances is to enable international UN Volunteers to sustain a modest and secure standard of living at the duty station. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward or salary in exchange for the volunteer work.

Allowances provided are:

• volunteer living allowance: a monthly allowance intended to cover basic living expenses (this is not a salary)
• travel expenses: for travel to duty station upon appointment and for repatriation at the end of the assignment
• settling-in-grant: a grant calculated on the duration of the assignment, paid at the beginning of the assignment
• insurances: life, health and permanent disability insurance
• annual leave
• resettlement allowance: calculated based on the duration of the assignment, paid upon satisfactory completion of the assignment.

Eligibility

First, check whether you meet the minimum requirements below and if so then you can register your profile in the UNV's Global Talent Pool.

The minimum requirements to serve as an international UN Volunteer are:

1. 25 years old and older (no upper age limit)
2. university degree or higher technical diploma
3. at least two years of relevant work experience in a professional background
4. good working knowledge of at least one of UNV’s three working languages: English, French or Spanish
5. commitment to the values and principles of volunteerism
6. ability to work in a multicultural environment
7. willingness to work with people and local organizations to draw upon the synergies between expert solutions and local knowledge
8. ability to adjust in difficult living conditions and sometimes remote locations
9. strong interpersonal and organizational skills
10. prior volunteering and/or working experience in a developing country is an asset

Profiles in Demand

Profiles in high demand include technical specialists (IT, engineering, logistics, transport), legal and medical professionals, political scientists, public information officers, administration and finance experts and professionals with experience in development, management, humanitarian affairs and peacekeeping.

Read more about priority areas for rapid deployment and profiles in demand.

Living Conditions

Living conditions vary from stable environments to very changing and dynamic ones.  Be aware that many UN Volunteers work in remote, isolated duty stations where basic comforts may be limited. Many other UN Volunteers work under routine conditions, such as capital cities, with all modern conveniences available. Our assignments are categorized as “family” or “non-family” duty stations, depending on the nature of the assignment and the security context.

Conditions of Service for international UN Volunteers - Full document.
Overview - UNV Conditions of Service for international UN Volunteers.

About UNV

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. The UNV programme works with partners to integrate qualified, highly motivated and well supported UN Volunteers into development programming and promote the value and global recognition of volunteerism. UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and reports to the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board.

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