United Nations Volunteers is the United Nations focal point for promoting and harnessing volunteerism for effective development. UNV is a strategic source of knowledge and advice about the role and contribution of volunteerism and the benefits of civic engagement in development programmes. UNV is dedicated to using Volunteerism for Development (V4D) to make distinctive contributions to the effectiveness of development.
Basic requirements
Since 1971, more than 30,000 UNV volunteers have worked in over 160 countries. UNV volunteers are professionals that play key roles in delivering development efforts. To become a UNV volunteer one should fulfill the following minimum requirements:
- A university degree or higher technical diplomas;
- Several years of relevant working experience;
- At least age 25 (no maximum age limit);
- Good working knowledge in at least one of the three working UN languages: English, French and Spanish;
- Strong commitment to values and principles of volunteerism;
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
- Ability to adjust in difficult living conditions;
- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills;
- Prior volunteering and/or working experience in a developing country is an asset.
Benefits
- Benefits are, in principle, not measured in monetary terms determined by the labour market. Foremost is the personal and professional satisfaction the assignment should bring to you, the UNV volunteer.
In return for your service, you will receive the following benefits:- Settling-in-Grant calculated on the duration of assignment which is paid at the beginning of the assignment;
- Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) intended to cover basic living expenses, which is paid each month;
- Travel on appointment and at the end of assignment, if different than home location;
- Life, health and permanent disability insurance;annual leave; and
- Resettlement allowance calculated based on the duration of assignment which is paid upon satisfactory completion of the assignment.
