The United Nations (UN) offers diverse on-site volunteer opportunities for individuals passionate about contributing to global peace and sustainable development. These roles are integral to the UN’s mission, encompassing a wide array of professional fields and requiring varying levels of experience.
The primary avenue for on-site volunteering with the UN is through the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme . Administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNV integrates qualified and motivated professionals into various UN offices and agencies worldwide . This program is crucial for advancing the UN’s mandates and principles, fostering multilateralism, and promoting sustainability through tangible, hands-on work .
Types of On-Site Volunteer Opportunities
UNV offers two main categories of volunteer opportunities: volunteer abroad and volunteer in one’s own country . These roles can be found in field missions, regional offices, and at UN Headquarters . The UN values diversity and recruits from a wide range of backgrounds, with personnel coming from countries across the globe to support conflict-affected communities .
Common assignment titles for UN Volunteers include:
- Field Officer (in various areas)
- Community Development Officer
- Communications Officer
- Protection/Human Rights Officer
- Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
UN Volunteers can serve with numerous UN entities, such as UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR, IOM, OHCHR, UNFPA, and WFP
Volunteer Categories and Eligibility
The UNV programme categorizes assignments into four types, each with specific eligibility criteria:
- Expert: Candidates must be at least 35 years old and possess more than 15 years of professional experience .
- Specialist: Candidates need to be at least 27 years old and have a minimum of 3 years of professional experience .
- Youth and University: This category is for individuals between 18 and 26 years of age, with no prior professional experience typically required .
- Community: No previous professional experience or academic requirements are needed, but volunteers must reside in the community they serve .
General basic requirements for UN Volunteers include a university degree or higher technician diploma (a master’s degree may be necessary depending on the job), two years of relevant work experience, and good working knowledge of at least one of the three UNV working languages: English, French, and Spanish . For international assignments, the minimum age is 25, and for national assignments, it is 22 . The UN Youth Volunteer program specifically targets motivated youth between 18 and 29 years old, with varying educational and experience requirements .
To explore all On-site volunteer opportunities ,visit the official website at https://app.unv.org/
Application Process
The application process for on-site UN Volunteer opportunities generally involves the following steps:
- Sign up and complete a profile on UNV’s Volunteer Management Application website to be included in the ‘Global Talent Pool’ . It is recommended to provide as many details as possible regarding qualifications, skills, and professional experience .
- Candidates can be selected in two ways:
- When assignments are sent to UNV, a search is conducted in the applicant pool for matching profiles, and qualified candidates are contacted.
- Individuals can directly apply to a ‘special call’, which often requires faster deployment . These special calls are listed on the UNV website, with each position having a ‘Description of Assignment’ detailing requirements .
Rights and Benefits
UN Volunteers receive a variety of benefits to ensure a basic standard of living, including:
- Monthly living allowance
- Medical insurance (including dependents)
- Annual leave (2.5 days per month served)
- Learning opportunities
- Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities
- Travel allowance for international UN Volunteers
Volunteers are subject to the Conditions of Service for international and national UN Volunteers and receive digital and on-site training . They are also entitled to privileges and immunities similar to those of UN officials .
