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The United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is an international organization dedicated to safeguarding children's rights, supporting their basic needs, and fostering their opportunities. If you're interested in joining UNICEF, you can opt to volunteer or apply for a position within the organization. In either case, you'll need to follow the procedures outlined on the official UNICEF website.
Steps
Becoming a Volunteer with UNICEF
Join a UNICEF UNITE team if you reside in a participating U.S. city. UNICEF UNITE boasts teams in 18 U.S. cities where individuals can volunteer. To become a UNITE volunteer, sign up at https://www.unicefusa.org/unite/register and contact [email protected] to connect with local team leaders in your city.
- UNICEF UNITE encompasses all volunteers and supporters across the United States. Together, UNITE members advocate for prioritizing children in local, state, and federal policies and funding decisions. They also engage in fundraising and promote awareness of UNICEF's mission.
- The current 18 cities with UNITE teams include: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC.
- Even if you're not located in one of these cities, you can still contribute to UNITE by advocating for children's rights and fundraising. Explore the resources available on the website at https://www.unicefusa.org/unite/resources for more information on how you can get involved.
Quick Tip: For more details on volunteering and engagement opportunities within the USA, visit https://www.unicefusa.org/unite.
If you reside outside the USA, reach out to your country's UNICEF National Committee. Volunteer options in developed nations beyond the USA are facilitated through 33 UNICEF National Committees. Explore https://www.unicef.org/unicef-national-committees for a comprehensive list and inquire about volunteering.
- Availability of volunteer roles varies among UNICEF National Committees. While some countries might list volunteer positions in their careers section, others might require direct inquiry via the contact page.
- Aside from volunteering, the National Committee websites provide information on alternative ways to contribute, such as fundraising or donations.
Apply for the Youth Advocates Programme if you're aged 18-24. Collaboratively developed by UNICEF and the United Nations Volunteer Program, this initiative offers national and international volunteer opportunities. Apply via the UNV website at https://www.unv.org/news/applications-open-unv-and-unicef-youth-advocates-programme.
- Eligibility for this program is open worldwide to individuals aged 18-24 who have completed secondary education, demonstrated commitment to peace and development, and possess a working knowledge of English.
- Applicants with disabilities or from minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
- The Youth Advocates Programme offered volunteer positions in 33 countries during 2018-2019, each lasting for one year.
Pursuing a Career at UNICEF
Familiarize yourself with UNICEF competencies documentation to enhance your application readiness. Review UNICEF's core values and competencies here. This will aid in aligning your skills with job requirements and preparing for the selection process.
- Every UNICEF job posting mandates adherence to its core values and competencies, along with proficiency in 3-5 functional competencies outlined in the documentation.
- For instance, a human resources manager role may necessitate proficiency in competencies like relating/networking, planning/organizing, and leading/supervising.
- Candidates are assessed on a scale of 1-3 based on competency levels, as detailed in the documentation.
Explore available job openings on the UNICEF website. Navigate to https://www.unicef.org/careers/explore-careers-unicef to find positions matching your qualifications and interests. Use keywords or filters to refine your search.
- Ensure you meet any nationality requirements specified for the job. Some positions are restricted to nationals of the hosting country.
- Take note of the application deadline, including the timezone, and submit your application before then.
- Thoroughly review the job description and requirements to confirm eligibility and suitability before applying.
- UNICEF offers a diverse range of roles, such as immunization specialist, budget officer, finance associate, information management officer, construction engineer, social policy specialist, and more.
Submit your application for evaluation. Click 'Apply' on a relevant job listing and follow the prompts to complete the application process.
- You can save your progress and return later to complete the application. Just ensure it's submitted before the deadline.
- Update your resume and craft a tailored cover letter for your application.
- All applications must be submitted through the online portal for consideration; there are no alternative application methods.
Pro Tip: Watch this instructional video on filling out UNICEF's online job application: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePgDIQ9RVYs&feature=youtu.be.
Undertake additional tasks and interviews if shortlisted. UNICEF may assign additional assessments, such as online tests or written tasks, before conducting interviews. Successful completion leads to an interview opportunity.
- Tasks and interviews assess alignment with UNICEF's core values and competencies. Familiarize yourself with these relevant to your applied position.
- Prepare for your interview using helpful tips available on the UN website: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI.
Await feedback from the hiring office. Applicants receive notification, typically via email, regarding their application status. The selection process may take 1-4 months, so exercise patience.
- If unsuccessful, consider applying for other vacancies. UNICEF frequently posts numerous openings, providing ample opportunities.
- Set up job alerts via the UNICEF portal to receive notifications for relevant job postings.
