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UNV is the agency that recruits volunteers to support United Nations projects. It places some 7,500 volunteers each year. UNV is also the UN's advocate for volunteering.
Donna Keher explains that they maintain a database where people with post secondary education and several years working experience apply to volunteer by posting their personal resumes. Whenever a UN agency needs volunteers, UNV pulls from the database people with the right training, experience, and language. UNV places people with a wide range of skills, including farming, air traffic control, medicine, business management.
UNV assignments are typically two years long, except for election monitoring assignments, which are generally six months in duration.
For those interested in knowing a bit more about volunteering with the UN, Donna Keher describes the UN organizations that use volunteers most, and the types of assignments involved.
UNV provides covers costs for travel, basic living needs, and health insurance. There is no upper age limit, but the UNV travel insurance is not available to candidates over 70, so they have to arrange their own insurance.
Donna says there is room for more Canadians to work on assignments through UNV, particularly those who have already had some experience in a developing country. The first step is to review their web site and submit a resume.
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