UNDP Liberia

UNV PROGRAMME

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the volunteer arm of the United Nations. It was created by the General Assembly in 1970 to serve as an operational partner in development cooperation at the request of UN member states. It mobilizes qualified UN Volunteers and encourages people to become active in volunteering in their countries. It is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and works through UNDP's country offices around the world.

UNV opens up opportunities for mid-career professional women and men to serve as UN Volunteers and contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – a set of time-bound targets to combat poverty, hunger, diseases, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women.

In 2005, 7.059 UN Volunteers – representing more than 155 nationalities and serving in some 140 countries – supported the activities of governments, UN agencies, non-governmental and civil society organizations in key areas such as poverty reduction, democratic governance, energy and environment, crisis prevention and recovery, human rights and HIV/AIDS. Reaffirming the programme's commitment to promoting south-south cooperation, the majority (75 percent) of UN Volunteers are nationals of developing countries and economies in transition.

UNV Programme in Liberia

Since the first international UNVs arrived in Liberia in 1982, the number has increased exponentially, representing a wide range of specializations providing support to the UN intervention in Liberia. Fifty-four (54) UNVs are currently serving with UN Agencies, 29 of which are with UNDP, and a further 340 with the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). The majority of UNVs serving in Liberia come from Africa, and works in the fields of human rights and protection, gender, monitoring and evaluation, administration, procurement, HIV/AIDS, and project management.

UNDP became a major partner of the UNV Programme in Liberia in since October 2004, supporting and strengthening such country programmes as DDRR, Human Rights and Protection, the Global Fund, and HIV/AIDS. On 5 December 2004, the UNV Programme in Liberia started the celebration of the International Volunteer Day (IVD) and the observance has since shifted to include community participation in self-help initiatives and greater awareness on nationalism. Students from 5 universities participated in a clean-up exercise of the various campuses in observance of IVD. The tradition of IVD started in 1985 around the globe to leverage the UNV mandate and spirit.
Liberia is now increasingly reciprocating through having its own nationals serving as UNV's in Liberia and overseas. Over 70 Liberians are serving as International UNVs abroad, most of who are in post-conflict countries, such as Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Guyana, Sudan, Tobago, Haiti, and Côte D'Ivoire.

National Youth Volunteer Service

An agreement establishing a National Youth Volunteer Service was signed in 2007 between UNDP and the Government of Liberia. The programme aims at encouraging volunteerism among youths especially graduates from universities. The initial beneficiaries consisting of 100 volunteers have completed basic training in volunteerism and are deployed in the 15 counties to work in schools and clinics at the same time sensitizing the citizens on the dangers of HIV/AIDS.

To become International UN Volunteer

If one would like to serve as a UNV abroad, the recruitment and deployment will be done at UNV Headquarters in Bonn, Germany. The Minimum requirements in order to apply as International UNV are as follows: academic credentials and/or technical diplomas; 5 years of relevant work experience post-qualification – in case of higher demand, two to three years can sometimes suffice; fluency in one or more of the following languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese or Russian; good health; and at least 25 years of age. Please visit UNV HQ website for more details.
( http://www.unv.org/volunteers/index.htm )

To Become National UN Volunteer

The mobilization of National UN Volunteers is designed to harness the skills, enthusiasm and local knowledge of national citizens to promote volunteerism in support of peace and development.
A National UN Volunteer serves in her or his own country. National UN Volunteers have skills appropriate to local needs as well as knowledge of the social, economic, cultural and political conditions prevailing in the country. This facilitates their integration into the programme and local context, and helps foster interaction among national and international peers, counterparts and stakeholders. The use of National UN Volunteers also enhances possibilities for national capacity building and human resource development by strengthening the pool or expertise and knowledge, which remains in the country. It also reinforces other measures being taken to promote volunteerism at all levels of society. A summary of conditions of service can be accessed HERE

How to apply

A National UN Volunteer should have academic credential (bachelor's degree, master's degree, doctorate or technical awards, certificate, diploma for certain trades), at least 3-5 years of relevant work experience following academic qualification, minimum 25 years of age, good communication skills, and ability to speak, read and write the national language. Knowledge of local languages is an asset. He/she should also demonstrate the spirit of volunteerism.
To apply you can contact the UNV office at UNDP Liberia Mamba Point.

To view the UNV Liberia Newsletter.

 

To view the UNV Liberia Newsletter.