The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program is an initiative by the United Nations (UN) that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. It was created by the UN General Assembly in 1970 to serve as an operational partner in development cooperation at the request of UN member states

The program is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and works through its Country Offices around the world. The UNV program contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers. It believes that volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer.

The program mobilizes more than 7,000 UN Volunteers to work in Development Assistance projects and in Humanitarian and Peacekeeping Operations across the world. These volunteers come from diverse professional and technical backgrounds and contribute their skills and expertise to various areas of need. The UNV program is active in around 130 countries every year, with Field Units in 60 countries . It embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, recognizing the values that sustain it, such as free will, commitment, engagement, and solidarity

Recruitment & Open Jobs

The UNV program recruits volunteers through a structured process that involves advertising open positions, assessing applications, interviewing candidates, and selecting the most suitable individuals for assignments. The recruitment criteria typically include relevant qualifications, experience, language skills, and a commitment to the values of volunteerism and the UN’s mission.

UNV regularly posts open volunteer positions on its official website . These positions span a wide range of areas such as peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and more. The job descriptions outline the specific requirements, responsibilities, duration of assignment, location, and other pertinent details for each opportunity.

More opportunities

To explore open jobs at the UNV , interested candidates can visit their official career website

Online Application

To apply for UN volunteer jobs, you need to follow the online application process. Here are the steps involved:

  1. Create a Profile: The first step is to create your profile in the UNV Global Talent Pool via the Unified Volunteering Platform. This platform is used to streamline the administration of volunteers and ensure equity across UN Volunteer entitlements 
  2. Register in the Global Talent Pool: After creating your profile, you need to register in the Global Talent Pool. This registration process consists of a few simple steps that must be completed before you can apply for onsite or online volunteering assignments .
  3. Check for Volunteer Opportunities: UNV regularly publishes selected volunteer opportunities. Once you have completed your profile and registration, you can browse through the available assignments on the Unified Volunteering Platform. Some assignments may not be published because they are filled by candidates whose profiles are matched directly from the Global Talent Pool .
  4. Apply for Assignments: When you find an assignment that interests you, you can apply for it through the Unified Volunteering Platform. Follow the instructions provided for each specific assignment and make sure to meet any additional eligibility criteria mentioned in the PDF file linked to the special call 
  5. Keep Your Profile Active: It is important to keep your UNV profile active by accessing it at least once a year. This ensures that you remain eligible for future volunteer opportunities.

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