This page provides additional information for UN Volunteers, UN partners and UNV personnel. It informs on and links to important policies, forms and documentation that will assist when questions arise during crises.
- Well-being
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Mental health: To safeguard your mental health in times of crises, refer to the whole health mental health solution offered by Cigna Health Services. Through the International Employee Assistance Programme, you can reach out for confidential support. If you are responsible for the well-being and mental health of your team, you can refer to guidance on a Manager's Response to Traumatic Events.
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Arrangements for telecommuting: UN Volunteers are subject to the supervisory framework of the Host Entity for, among other things, telecommuting options and flexible working arrangements. Refer to the Unified Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers (Section V) and use the telecommuting form.
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- Medical provisions
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Medical insurance coverage: The coverage provided for UN Volunteers is outlined in the below policy documents of Cigna Health Services.
- Medical, Life, Dismemberment and Malicious Act coverage for National UN Volunteers
- Post-service coverage for additional six months for national UN Volunteers - EN, FR, ES, RU, AR, CHI
- Medical, Life, Dismemberment and Malicious Act coverage for International UN Volunteers
- Post-service coverage for additional six months for international UN Volunteers - EN, FR, ES, RU, AR, CHI
- Flyers on the TeleHealth services and International Employee Assistance Programme
- Cigna - Pharmacy management for USA-based volunteers
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Roles and Responsibilities of Host Entities: To understand what support you are entitled to, refer to the policy document outlining the roles and responsibilities of host entities.
- Contacts: To contact the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), refer to the regional contact information for the Critical Incident Stress Management Unit (CISMU).
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- Travel
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Any requests for travel to Gaza must be cleared by UNDSS before it is initiated: In line with the Gaza Administrative Guidelines, the Designated Official (DO), in consultation with the Security Management Team (SMT) and based on the advice of the most senior security professional directly supporting the DO, may institute planned or ad hoc Alternate Work Modalities (AWM) for all or some United Nations personnel and eligible family members to address specific security problems in their area of responsibility in accordance with Section F of the Security Policy Manual. This would apply to on-site UN Volunteers as well.
The decision as to whether to initiate recruitment to operations in Gaza should be made in accordance with each Organization’s priorities and the evolving security situation and personnel ceilings, if any, imposed by the security situation.
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UN Volunteers and candidates: All travel of UN Volunteers must be cleared by the host entity before purchasing tickets and start of the travel and must comply with relevant conditions and restrictions set by national and local authorities. Please check with your host entity on processes to obtain such an approval.
UN Volunteer candidates yet to travel to duty station are required to send this host entity clearance to their focal point at UNV for record keeping and UNV clearance to travel.
UN Volunteers remain responsible for their own travel decisions and any consequences resulting from travel not pre-approved by the host entity. Candidates travelling without clearance from the host entity may be held responsible for any additional costs incurred due to cancelled or rebooked travel.
UN Volunteers are advised to request their security clearance in TRIP based on travel itinerary and purchase tickets only once the security clearance is granted by UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS).
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Travel due to relocation outside the duty station and/or security or medical evacuation: UN Volunteers, their PFU, and additional primary dependents, who are legally authorized to reside at the duty station are entitled to be fully incorporated into the Host Entity’s security planning, management, and implementation arrangements for the area of the country operation/field presence under the responsibility of the Host Entity and under the overall authority of the UN Designated Official (DO). This includes but is not limited to the applicability of Security Risk Measures (SRMs), Residential Security Measures (RSMs), and arrangements and decisions related to security relocation and evacuation under the same terms and conditions applicable to internationally and locally recruited UN staff members of the Host Entity.
If UNDSS authorizes relocation/evacuation of UN personnel from a duty station or country of assignment for security reasons, the DO will make arrangements for the UN Volunteer to travel to the designated safe haven with the other equivalent UN personnel.
In the case of travel to the temporary safe haven, the eligible recognized primary dependents authorized to join the UN Volunteer at the duty station will also be covered, if this is authorized by UNDSS.
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- Volunteer management
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Relocation, evacuation (medical or security): process forms and entitlements:
Security Policy Summary - UN Volunteers infographic
Refer to the Unified Conditions of Service (more details in Annex A-04):
Forms: {add hyperlink]
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Danger pay: National and international UN Volunteers may be entitled to danger pay when the hardship classification changes (listing of related classifications):
UN Volunteers serving in locations where the living conditions meet the eligibility criteria, as established by UNV methodology, will receive a Wellbeing Differential payment. The purpose of the Wellbeing Differential is to offset the cost-of-living conditions that are substantially below those conditions in what is defined by UNV as a hardship duty station. There are two classifications:
Well-being Differential A - Non-Family Duty Stations and D-Hardship Classification: international UN Volunteers receive USD 500 a month, and national UN Volunteers receive 15 per cent of their monthly living allowance.
WBD B – Non-Family Duty Station and E-Hardship Classification or Danger Pay Duty Station: international UN Volunteers receive USD 1,000 a month, and national UN Volunteers receive 30 per cent of their monthly living allowance.
NB: The Danger Pay and hardship entitlements provided to UN staff do not apply to UN Volunteers. More details can be found in the Unified Conditions of Service, section VII.10 and Annex 05
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Reasonable accommodation: UN Volunteers are subject to the supervisory framework of the Host Entity for, among other things, reasonable accommodation (see Unified Conditions of Service V.1). For further information refer to the following:
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