Becoming a UN Volunteer is a journey filled with purpose and the promise of making a tangible difference in the world. UN Volunteer assignments support peace, development and humanitarian initiatives of the United Nations around the globe.

The journey begins with understanding the different categories of UN Volunteers. You could serve as an international UN Volunteer, working in a country other than your own; or as a national UN Volunteer, contributing within your home country.

If you have less than three years of experience, you might consider becoming a youth or university volunteer. For those with more experience, there are roles as specialists or experts.

Here’s what UNV recommends:

You need to be at least 18 years old, possess relevant professional and academic experience, and be proficient in the relevant languages. For national UNV assignments, which represent around 70% of all assignments, you must be a national or legal resident of the country. Your commitment to UN values and principles is crucial, as is your ability to thrive in multicultural environments and adapt to challenging conditions.

With these requirements in mind, you create your profile in the UNV Global Talent Pool via the UNV Unified Volunteering Platform (UVP). This step involves detailing your skills, experiences, and preferences, painting a comprehensive picture of what you bring to the table.

You then browse through the available assignments on the UVP, carefully reviewing opportunities that align with your skills and interests. When you find a match, you submit your application through UVP. All assignments have additional criteria, so please ensure you meet all the specified requirements.

As you prepare for your assignment, you brace yourself for the adventure ahead. You know you’ll need to adjust to different living conditions and develop strong interpersonal and organizational skills. Assignments are full-time and can range from three to 24 months, with the possibility of extensions.

The benefits of being a UN Volunteer are immense. Professionally, you gain valuable experience and expand your network. Culturally, you immerse yourself in new environments, whether it’s learning about a new culture or sharing something about yours. Most importantly, you make a lasting impact on communities around the world. UN Volunteers receive allowances and benefits to sustain them during their volunteer assignments.

Some of the recent UN Volunteer assignments include—crisis and emergency response for the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, frontline response for cyclones, floods, pandemics, and more. 

This journey is about growing, learning, and contributing to a better world. And as UNV puts it— inspiration in action!

Becoming an Online Volunteer with the United Nations Volunteers allows you to contribute to global peace and development from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a device and a connection to the internet. Online Volunteering assignments exemplify UNV’s forward-thinking in an increasingly digital world, where volunteers contribute their skills and expertise virtually from anywhere in the world. 

Here’s what UNV recommends:

• Please check the eligibility requirements. You need to be at least 18 years old, but there is no specific background required. • Each assignment has its own set of requirements, tailored to the needs of the host organization.

With this knowledge, on the app, you carefully fill out your profile, detailing your skills, experiences, and preferences. This step is crucial as it helps match you with the most suitable assignments. You then browse through the available online assignments on UVP and using filters, you distinguish online opportunities from onsite ones. When you find an assignment that aligns with your skills and interests, you submit your application through the UVP.

Online volunteering assignment gives you flexibility to balance your volunteering with other commitments, making it an ideal way to give back. Online Volunteers do not receive financial compensation and don’t sign a contract; however, they receive certificate of appreciation upon the successful completion of their assignments it offers.

Online Volunteering assignments have evolved from traditional roles like document editing and translation to cutting-edge tasks such as AI machine learning to data analysis during crises, creating impactful social media campaigns, and developing innovative climate solutions. 

Some of the recent online volunteering assignments include: energy access initiatives where volunteers used open-source machine-learning software to develop algorithms and support mini-grid installations; social media messages for awareness campaigns on climate change’s impact on health, water, and food safety, chronic illness management, and infection prevention; voting education and civic participation; data sets on green economic growth; and many more innovative online assignments. 

Create your profile on the UNV Unified Volunteering Platform (UVP) here: app.unv.org

For an in depth look at Online Volunteer stories, please visit our website: unv.org/tags/online-volunteers

Read more about how to become a UN Volunteer here: unv.org/become-volunteer/volunteer-abroad