The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme places thousands of volunteers every year with UN agencies: UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, peace operations… It is one of the best ways into a humanitarian or development career.
Types of assignments
- National UN Volunteer: an assignment in your own country, open to nationals of the duty station.
- International UN Volunteer: an assignment outside your country, with travel and settling-in covered.
- Youth and university volunteers: assignments for recent graduates and students, often with no experience required.
- Specialist and expert volunteers: assignments that need several years of experience in a field (health, logistics, protection, finance, IT…).
- Online volunteering: short remote tasks, from home, for NGOs and UN agencies.
Minimum age and required experience depend on the category: always check the requirements in the assignment description.
What an assignment offers
A UN Volunteer is not a staff member, but not unpaid either: you receive a monthly living allowance based on the cost of living at the duty station, health insurance, leave and, for international assignments, return travel and a settling-in grant. Assignments usually last 6 to 12 months and can be extended.
How to apply
- Create your profile on the official platform app.unv.org and complete it carefully (languages, degrees, experience).
- Browse the open assignments on the same platform and apply to those that match your profile.
- If you are shortlisted, the host agency invites you to an interview, often online.
Applying is always free. Be wary of anyone asking for money for a UN volunteer assignment.
After your assignment
Many former volunteers go on to a contract with their host agency or with an NGO. During your assignment, follow the jobs in your country on Humanitaires Jobs to prepare your next step.