The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

UNV engages around 6000 volunteer assignments annually. With an average age of 38 years and the requisite professional skills and qualifications of some 5 to 10 years relevant experience. The majority – 81 per cent – come from developing countries themselves. One third of UN Volunteers served in their own countries, with the others carrying out international assignments. The financial equivalent of programme activities exceeds US$ 235 million annually.  

UNV is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has approximately 120 staff positions – with the a large presence in Bonn and some positions with different UN peacekeeping and political missions, and in other Headquarters locations (e.g. New York and Tokyo) and Regional Offices (Nairobi, Dakar, Bangkok, Panama, and Amman).

The Volunteer Solutions Section (VSS) oversees the application of standard policies and procedures at all levels of the Volunteer Management Cycle and programme development and management as well as the coordination and facilitation of communication and collaboration with Regional Offices.

General Terms and Conditions

• UNDP Conditions of Service for interns (http://www.undp.org/internships/) apply for interns working at UNV Headquarters.
• The Internship Programme operates on a non-remunerative basis. Costs and arrangements for travel, visa, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern.
• The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNV but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.
• UNV accepts no responsibility for the intern’s medical insurance or for costs arising from illness during the internship. Interns are required to provide proof of medical insurance coverage.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and called for a motivational interview.

Please also refer to UNV’s general terms and conditions for internships at UNV at http://www.unv.org/about-us/employment/internship.html

Under the overall guidance of the Policy Specialist within the Volunteer Solutions Section, the intern will support the Volunteer Policy Pillar of VSS as follows:  

• Assist with the review and update of UNV policies and emerging new modalities, including Refugee and Community Volunteers as well as the UN Youth Volunteer programme;
• Assist with the drafting of manuals and instructions for UNV Volunteer Management products in collaboration with Regional Offices;
• Support in updating the Volunteer Policy Pillar page and sharing information with relevant users;
• Support in making presentations and preparing training material for review of the Conditions of Service;
• Support other assigned activities within the Volunteer Policy Pillar.

Learning opportunities for the intern

• General understanding of the work and mission of the UNV programme, and of volunteerism’s contribution to peace and development effectiveness;
• Insight and hands-on experience in UNV’s broad range of operational and programmatic issues on volunteer management;
• Insight and hands-on experience in volunteer management; and
• Become more familiar with working in an International Organization and in a multicultural environment.

• Strong interest in development cooperation and in the work of the United Nations Volunteers programme.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills as well as proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required.  Knowledge of Visio and other design applications would be an asset.
• Interest and experience in volunteering is a strong asset.
• Experience in developing countries is desirable.
• Fluency in English; French desirable.

Currently enrolled in either:

• a Master’s degree / programme in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Management Studies (Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Law…) or a related field.
• In the final year of a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Management Studies (Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Law…) or a related field.
• Within one year post graduation of either of the above.