UN Volunteers

Professionals who work on a peer basis

The United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV) was created by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1970 to serve as an operational partner in development cooperation at the request of UN member states. It is unique within the UN family and as an international volunteer undertaking. It reports to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and works through UNDP's country offices around the world.

UN Volunteers work in technical, economic and social fields. They are professionals who work on a peer basis. Today 28 per cent are at work in Africa. Thirty per cent of the volunteers serve in the world's poorest nations and half work outside capital cities, frequently in remote towns and villages.

Applicants for national UNV field worker posts are expected to have academic or technical qualifications, several years of practical experience with communities and grassroots work and be at least 21 years of age. In addition, applicants are expected to have a genuine interest and commitment to supporting self-help development efforts.

National UNV field workers are unsalaried professionals who in return for their services receive certain allowances. Offers to serve as national UNV field workers should be addressed directly to the UNV Programme Officer or focal point in the UNDP Office in your country of residence.

For more information, please visit http://www.unv.org