UN volunteer program

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program contributes to peace and development through volunteering around the world. As an international UN volunteer, you will receive a monthly living allowance (VLA) of USD 1,800-3,500 depending on location. Please note that UN Volunteers are not considered official UN staff, but are considered UN staff. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, with age requirements varying between the different categories: UN Youth Volunteers must be between 18 and 26 years old, Specialists 27 years old and above, and Experts 35 years old and above. Specific roles may have additional academic, professional and linguistic criteria. All UN Volunteers are expected to adhere to the values ​​and principles of the UN, adapt to diverse environments, including challenging locations, and have strong professional and interpersonal skills. UN International Volunteer assignments can generally last from 3 to 12 months with a maximum period of 4 years. The terms and conditions change frequently, so please make sure not to rely on my article but check the official website for the latest information. In the meantime, you may find these two documents useful: Changes to the Terms of Service for Volunteers 2021 and Terms of Service for International Youth Volunteers 2023. UNV has also created a very useful platform to learn more about such issues.