UN Volunteers work in four broad sectors:

• Technical cooperation for development
• Community-focused initiatives
• Humanitarian relief and rehabilitation
• Electoral, Human Rights and Peace-building processes.

Whether classified in any of these four sectors, each UNV assignment requires a combination of personal abilities and professional skills. In order to respond quickly to the requests for Volunteers, UNV maintains a resource bank of available candidates who have relevant experience to work in the above sectors.

As a UN Volunteer, you can be recruited under different categories: 

International UNV Specialists serve in a country other than their own and are recruited for practical and specialized inputs to development or humanitarian programmes. International UNV Specialists usually hold a university degree or a higher diploma and have extensive professional experience. Their contracts are usually for two years. However, assignments for international UNV Specialists in humanitarian relief, peace-building, electoral work or human rights can vary from a few months to a year or more. In addition, it is expected that you will have a genuine interest and commitment to supporting the efforts of others. Your qualifications should also be in an area where UNV receives regular requests (and which are areas and/or professions in demand) for UN Volunteers assistance.

International UNV Field Workers also serve in a country other than their own but come from the same continent. International UNV field workers normally have a technical diploma and several years of experience with grass-roots groups or organizations in their own country. They facilitate the exchange of knowledge between countries and support self-help action in community-based development. Their contracts are usually for two years.

 To apply as international UNV Specialists, you should fulfil the following requirements:

• Academic credentials (Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, doctorate) or higher technical diplomas
• Several years of relevant working experience, preferably minimum of five years
• At least 25 years of age (there is no upper age limit)
• A good working knowledge of at least one of the following languages: Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish
• An ability to work in partnership and to adjust to difficult living conditions.

How to apply:  http://www.unv.org/how-to-volunteer.html

National UNV Specialists serve in their own country. They have formal qualifications and experience in working with local governments, community-based organizations (CBOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). National UNV Specialists support national capacity building initiatives, facilitate networking and exchange. They play active roles as interface between local communities and international organizations. Their contracts vary between one and two years.

National UNV Field Workers also serve in their own country. They often hold a vocational diploma and have experience in supporting self-help groups. National UNV field workers assist in building capacities of local community organizations and extend support to grassroots initiatives. They often play the role of community animators by mobilizing people's participation in development activities. Their contracts are usually for two years.

Contact UNV Sri Lanka office for application details:

United Nations Volunteers
202-204, Bauddhaloka Mawatha
Colombo 07
Sri Lanka. 

• Tel:  (+94) (11) 2580691 - 8
• Fax: (+94) (11) 2581116
• Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it