United Nations Volunteers

The United Nations Volunteer Program is a United Nations organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism around the world. Volunteering is a powerful tool for involving people in solving development problems and can change the pace and nature of development. Each year, some 8,000 skilled and experienced women and men of 160 different nationalities volunteer for at least six months of their lives to help others. Working in approximately 130 countries, these United Nations volunteers promote peace, respond to disasters, strengthen communities and help create sustainable livelihoods and development. UN volunteers come from dozens of professional backgrounds, but they are all catalysts for positive change. They are encouraged to be creative, enterprising and willful in promoting peace and development, both inside and outside of their role. They work in the heart of communities in collaboration with governments, United Nations agencies and civil society. Becoming a UN volunteer is not a career (currently limited to four years of service), but it is rich in opportunities and experience and offers enormous personal benefits. As a United Nations volunteer, you will receive a Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA), which covers basic necessities, accommodation and utilities. In addition, the UNV program offers premiums, life, health and permanent disability insurance, returns and nominal rehabilitation assistance.