These FAQ’s give you a lowdown on all the basic facts that you need to know about becoming a UNV:

1. What is the UNV Programme? 

The UNV programme in Ghana was established in the early 1970s and adopts a practical grassroots bottom up approach to development.  The programme recognizes that all Ghanaians have something to contribute to the country’s development. 

We therefore work with government departments and agencies, the private sector, NGOs/CBOs, universities, youth organizations, and international voluntary organizations to build capacity at all levels and provide opportunities for everyone to participate in the development process and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

We also actively encourage community groups and the private sector to identify projects in communities and mobilize voluntary input to implement them.  UNV Ghana works with its partners in a participatory manner to carry out activities in the following areas: poverty reduction, wealth creation, gender equality, empowerment of women, community empowerment, governance, health, education, youth development, environment and ICT.

 In addition, UNV strives to introduce as many qualified and experienced Ghanaians as possible to volunteerism and to the UN Volunteer scheme. This provides an avenue for Ghanaians to impart their skills and technical expertise to people in the community and to those in other countries within the region and beyond. 

 The UNV programme, in collaboration with other members of the large UN family, Government and NGOs, recruits qualified UNVs from other parts of the world to undertake assignments in Ghana. The resultant cross fertilization of knowledge and best practices is definitely of immense benefit to the people and Government of Ghana.

2. What are the different categories of UNV’s?

There are essentially two different categories in which UNV’s are recruited. There are the International United Nations Volunteers (IUNV’s) and the National United Nations Volunteers (NUNV’s).

The NUNV’s, as the term suggests, are UNV’s who serve in their own countries. They generally serve at the local or grassroots level since their knowledge of the local language (s) and context of the situation in the country/region makes them suited for such assignments.

IUNV’s, on the other hand, help to bring in new perspectives and resources in broader contexts like policy formulation and the imparting of technical know-how.

Apart from this sort of distinction, UNV’s can also be differentiated into two other categories based on profile. There is one category of UNV’s known as Field Workers and another category known as Specialists.

The Specialists are those UNV’s who have an average 10 years of post-qualification experience and provide highly specialized support, usually at the state or national level.

The Field Workers are those UNV’s who have around 5 years of relevant work experience and work closely with people at the grassroots level in a supportive and collaborative manner.

3. What are the requirements for becoming a UNV?

The minimum requirements for becoming a UNV, regardless of whether you want to be a NUNV or an IUNV, are are follows;

• A University Degree (Bachelors or higher) in any field
• Some professional work experience in relevant to degree obtained (4 years for NUNV’s and 5 years for IUNV’s)
• At least 25 years of age (no maximum age)
• A spirit of Volunteerism (please visit www.unv.org for more information on this)

4. What entitlements do UNV’s receive?

Since UNV’s render their services to a cause in the spirit of volunteerism more than anything else, the highest form of “entitlement” or “benefit” a UNV receives is personal satisfaction.

Apart from that, they are entitled to a limited amount of monetary entitlement which are as follows;

• A Settling-in-Grant based on the duration of the assignment (more than three months), which is paid at the start of the assignment. This is only given if the duty station of the UNV is different from a home location.
• A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) that is intended to help cover basic living expenses. This is a monthly payment.
• A Travel allowance in case the duty station is not a home location.
• Life, health and permanent disability insurance.
• Annual leave at the rate of two and a half working days a month.
• A resettlement allowance based on the duration of the assignment (more than three months), which is paid at the completion of the assignment.

5. What are the Conditions of service for UNV’s?

Since both National and International UN Volunteers are contracted by the United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV), they serve under the UNVP’s conditions of service. These are as follows;

a) National UN Volunteers will discharge their functions and regulate their conduct in the interests of the UN System, NGO, CBO and Government they are serving.

b) In accordance with the ideals of volunteer service, National UN Volunteers are guided solely by the motivation to devote their knowledge and abilities without regard to financial benefit toward realization of the broad objective laid down by the United Nations Charter for the economic and social advancement of humanity.

c) Neither the National UN Volunteer, nor their dependants, will engage in any activity that is incompatible with the proper discharge of the volunteer’s duties. National UN Volunteers will not accept any supplementary payment, from the Government or any other source, even when intended to cover the performance of any additional duties or activities.

d) National UN Volunteers are expected not to engage in any political activity which may be inconsistent with the independence and impartiality required of persons affiliated with the United Nations. Furthermore, National UN Volunteers will avoid any action and, in particular, any public statement which may adversely reflect on their UN status as National UN Volunteers.

e) During their assignments, National UN Volunteers will not, except in the normal course of official duties or with prior explicit approval of the UNV Executive Co-coordinator and/or the UNDP Resident Representative, issue statements to the press or other agencies of public information, release visual information for publication, submit articles, books or other material for publication or take part in mass communication activities such as film, radio or television productions which are in any way related to project activities or interests of the United Nations or the host country.

f) National UN Volunteers will, at all times, respect the laws, moral codes and traditions of the country.

g) During their assignments, National UN Volunteers shall not seek nor accept instructions from any Government or from any other authority external to the UN system, including representatives of co-sponsoring organizations. National UN Volunteers assigned to Governments, institutions, departments, NGOs or CBOs, however, will receive work-related instructions from designated officials as appropriate.

National UN Volunteers are not authorized to accept any outside jobs during their UNV assignments. The Executive Co-coordinator may approve non-remunerative service for the National UNV specialists and field workers along with their assignments in consultation with UNDP Resident Representatives, the Government, executing agencies, co-sponsoring organizations, NGOs or CBOs, as appropriate.

For more information, you can either go to

http://www.unv.org/volunteers/options/index.htm If you want to apply to become a NUNV, please fill out and submit the form ………If you want to apply to become an IUNV, please go to

http://www.unv.org/volunteers/options/abroad/index.htm.

If you are a Ghanaian living abroad and would like to contribute to the development of your country, you may be interested to read about the TOKTEN (Transfer of knowledge...)