Most vacancies ask for two to five years of experience. Several entry points can get you that first role.
Internships
UN agencies and many NGOs take interns for two to six months, usually master's students or recent graduates. Pay varies by organization, so check the posting. On Humanitaires Jobs, filter by the "Internship" contract.
UN Volunteers (UNV)
The UNV programme places national and international volunteers in UN agencies. Volunteers receive a living allowance and insurance. It is a strong first experience that recruiters recognise. You register on the official UNV website.
Young professionals programmes
- JPO (Junior Professional Officer): two- to three-year posts funded by some donor countries for their nationals, with an age limit.
- YPP (Young Professionals Programme): a UN entry exam open to nationals of certain countries, with an age limit.
National NGO posts
For African candidates, the most common route is a national post with an NGO or agency in their own country: programme assistant, community mobiliser, enumerator, logistics assistant. These roles give the field experience that international posts later require.
Five tips to stand out
- Learn a second working language (English or French).
- Take the free, recognised online courses of the sector (Kaya, DisasterReady, UNITAR courses).
- Master Excel and a data collection tool such as KoBoToolbox.
- Pick a specialism (logistics, health, protection, monitoring and evaluation…) rather than aiming at everything.
- Check the vacancies for your country on Humanitaires Jobs every week.