United Nations Volunteers in Nigeria

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 UNV volunteers, throughout the world.

How to become a UNV Volunteer

There are two types of volunteers: international and national.
A Roster of IUNVs has been created and is managed at the UNV Headquarters in Bonn. You can visit the UNV web site and register to be a UNV volunteer www.unv.org

Candidates for national UNV positions are identified by Country Office Teams and/or host agencies in the country of assignment. UNV positions are advertised in local newspapers.

UNV profile:
University degree in a technical field;
Minimum of two years of professional work experience for NUNVs and five years for IUNVs in the relevant area;
Not younger than 25 years;
Good command of one of the UN languages.

Other Ways of volunteerism
UNVs online: http://www.onlinevolunteering.org (home-based and free of charge work). The UNV Online Volunteering service connects volunteers and development organizations to collaborate online for peace and development. On this dedicated website, development organizations post their online volunteering opportunities. Interested individuals identify opportunities that match their interests, expertise, and skills, and submit their applications directly to the organizations, which select the volunteers they would like to engage in their activitis.

In addition, online volunteering gives you an opportunity to practice your skills, learn about other countries and contribute to sustainable development staying at home. Many people are involved in virtual volunteering because of time constrains, a disability or home-based obligations.
 
Conditions of Service
The key benefit of being a UNV volunteer is the personal satisfaction the volunteer assignment brings to you as you make a positive impact on peace and development; moreover UNV volunteering enhances your professional experie.

To support you during your assignment, you will receive:
Settling-in-Grant calculated on the duration of assignment, which is paid at the beginning of the assignment;
Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) (not a salary) intended to cover basic living expenses, which is paid each month;
Travel on appointment and at the end of assignment as applicable;
Life, health and permanent disability insurance;
Annual leave;
Resettlement allowance calculated based on the duration of assignment, which is paid upon satisfactory completion of the assignment.