Across the world, refugee, asylum-seeking, internally displaced, and migrant youth carry talent, ambition, and drive but are systematically shut out of internships and entry-level roles.
Through a 12-month paid UN Volunteer assignment, the UNICEF UNV Youth on the Move Programme places talented and passionate young people aged 20–32 inside UNICEF—where their skills are needed, their voices matter, and their potential can no longer be ignored.
The UNICEF UNV Youth on the Move Programme builds on the success of the Youth on the Move Fellowship Pilot Programme—implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Migration Youth and Children Platform. This pilot included 23 young people from refugee and displaced backgrounds to work with UNICEF between 2022 and 2024 (see the video). While the 2024–2025 edition engaged 13 UN Volunteers with UNICEF in Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Poland, Somalia, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.
Launching a new cohort
The soon-to-be-launched 2026 edition will coincide with the International Volunteer Year (IVY) 2026. This edition builds on the momentum of previous cohorts.
Who can apply?
- Young people aged 20–32
- Refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, and migrants
- Individuals facing barriers to education-to-employment pathways due to displacement or migration
- Based in the country of assignment and legally eligible to work
UNICEF is committed to equity, non-discrimination, and inclusive recruitment, particularly for youth on the move, including those with disabilities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply to support gender parity and address the heightened vulnerabilities faced by women and girls in displaced communities (see link).
How to apply? Check the Unified Volunteer Platform for positions opening in 2026 and register your profile by clicking on guidance and resources.
What’s the vision behind the UNICEF UNV Youth on the Move Programme?
Talent is universal, but opportunity is not. For refugee, displaced, and migrant youth, the door to internships and entry-level roles at UNICEF and beyond is often locked—not because of a lack of skill or ambition, but because of where they were born, the journeys they were forced to take, and the legal, administrative, and financial barriers linked to their displacement or migration status.
Too often, extraordinary talent remains invisible. Potential goes untapped. Not by choice—but by design. This is not a level playing field. The UNICEF UNV Youth on the Move Programme exists to challenge that reality. It is a deliberate intervention to break the glass ceiling, confront systemic exclusion, and turn lost opportunity into shared progress.
Read the stories of UN Volunteers with UNICEF UNV Youth on the Move in Côte d’Ivoire and Poland.
Cover photo shows UN Volunteers with UNICEF UNV Youth on the Move Programme 2025 edition.