Since 1976, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been partnering with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) to deliver vital humanitarian assistance. UN Volunteers support UNHCR's mission to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge, having fled violence, persecution, war or disaster at home.
How does the recruitment of UN Volunteers add value to UNHCR?
As an efficient, speedy and diverse talent solution for UN partners, UN Volunteers serve with UN entities to bring people to the forefront of development, peace and humanitarian issues. UNV manages a pool of over 350,000 talented and qualified UN Volunteers who can be deployed to bolster the delivery of UNHCR’s programmes and support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Refugee Status Determination operation in Turkey is large and complex, with asylum seekers from over 70 nationalities, and a considerable number with vulnerabilities and special needs. UN Volunteers are an extremely valuable resource in our team, particularly considering that they bring such competencies and values as solidarity, compassion, professionalism and genuine commitment towards the principles of volunteerism. --Muhammad Harfoush, Associate Refugee Status Determination Officer with UNHCR in Turkey
UN Volunteers support UNHCR’s efforts to protect refugees and internally displaced people, including the ability to bring diaspora and stateless persons to volunteer in their countries of origin and their own communities. UN Volunteers commonly serve within camps in refugee status determination, registration, repatriation, resettlement, protection and family reunification where they often act as the operational link between refugee populations and UNHCR administration.
Common UN Volunteer assignments with UNHCR include experts in the fields of personal protection, community social services, public health, education, and logistics. Whether through international or national assignments, UN Volunteers promote participatory approaches to community-based relief, rehabilitation and recovery, delivering large returns in meeting the needs of people on the margins of peace and development.
Read more about UN Volunteers serving with UNHCR.
How can your office recruit UN Volunteers?
To partner with UNV and recruit UN Volunteers to support UNHCR’s programmes and operations, contact the UNV Field Representation or Regional Office for guidance and support.
Additionally, the UN Partners Toolkit serves as a valuable resource for UN entities looking to host UN Volunteers. It provides essential information and resources that facilitate the effective engagement and management of UN Volunteers. By utilizing the toolkit, UN entities can expedite the recruitment of dedicated and talented UN Volunteers to support delivery on their mandates and goals. To gain a deeper understanding of our partnerships and access the 2024 data on UN partners hosting UN Volunteers, please click here.