FAQ – Swiss Youth at the United Nations

Increasing the number of Swiss nationals working in international cooperation, and particularly in the context of the UN, has been an important strategic focus of Swiss foreign policy for many years.

In 2001 the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV) and cinfo established a partnership focusing on providing an entry opportunity for young Swiss professionals to join UN agencies and the realm of international cooperation more generally. Through this programme selected volunteers spend one year in a priority country of SDC or PHRD working for a United Nations agency.

UNV is the agency that hosts the programme, partners and liaises with all funding governments, such as Switzerland, and recruits and deploys the UN Youth Volunteers (UNYVs). Within the Swiss government, the programme is promoted through SDC and PHRD, which both fund UNYV positions within their core areas of work and interest. cinfo coordinates the recruitment process, pre-selects UNYVs, provides pre-departure trainings to selected UNYVs and supports them throughout their assignment.

Yes, both agencies finance and support UN Youth Volunteers (UNYV) positions within their core areas of competency and interest.

No. You will receive a monthly living allowance which enables you to sustain a modest and secure standard of living at the duty station (approximately 1600 - 2300 USD per month depending on the living costs in the duty station). The allowances are however not to be understood as a compensation, reward or salary in exchange for your work. Benefits such as travel and health insurance are covered by UNV.

While you are recruited on a UNYV contract, you will carry a functional title proper to your duties and area of expertise (for instance “Associate Human Rights Officer”). You might support an advocacy team raise awareness on sexual and reproductive health issues, assist a Ministry in the creation of monitoring and evaluation tools for a national action plan, or support government efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to learn more about UNYV assignments, please take a look at the new positions advertised here.

Jobs are posted individually and you therefore apply directly for specific positions. You are free to apply for up to 3 positions. After the screening of the applications, you could be invited for up to 2 interviews.

Motivation letter, CV (incl % and length of assignment), work certificates, Master diploma/confirmation and other confirmations.

A default start date will be advertised for all positions. Candidates will be asked to start within a few weeks after this date. The exact date of entry on duty will be determined together with the host organisation. 

Yes, the selected candidates must attend various pre-departure training sessions and briefings shortly before the indicated starting date.

For us, it is very important to be able to count the amount of your experience. Please implement the exact duration and the percentage of your employment in your CV (01.03.2019 – 30.06.2020 at 50%).

Applications must be submitted via cinfo’s recruitment tool, cinfoPoste. Make sure your profile on cinfoPoste is complete and up to date:

• Motivation letter per application in English;
• CV in English (the length and the % of your employments should be indicated);
• Work certificates, diplomas and university credentials (as PDF) uploaded under the section 'documents';
• If required copy of your driving license.

Applications will be accepted in English only.

The minimum requirement for the programme is a master’s degree.

Next call for application: Yes, you can apply if you have submitted everything and will receive your Diploma or a written confirmation that you have successfully passed by mid-October 2022 at the latest.

Yes, you can.

It depends upon the Description of Assignment (DOA) of each position.

Yes, candidates must be no older than 28 at the date of application.

You need to be a Swiss national when you apply for one of the positions financed by SDC or PHRD.

Only Swiss nationals can apply for the positions financed by SDC and PHRD.

Yes. However, candidates cannot be deployed to countries of which they are citizens.

Yes, you can.

As this is a programme designed for recent graduates, with ideally one year of relevant work experience, it is expected that prospective candidates have completed relevant short-term placements and/or internships and/or research in a relevant field during their studies.

Yes. You can highlight travel experience in your CV. This will however not be considered as relevant professional experience.

Yes. It is important to demonstrate your volunteer/engagement spirit with concrete examples in your CV.

Yes, this is a requirement for positions financed by PHRD and is requested due to safety reasons. Please be aware that you need to have the license latest at the day of your interview.

No BUT you will receive a living allowance which enables you to sustain a modest and secure standard of living at the duty station (approximately 1600 - 2300 USD per month depending on the living costs in the duty station). The allowances are however, not to be understood as a compensation, reward or salary in exchange for your work. 

UN Youth Volunteers are also entitled to reimbursement for travel to assignment as well as to Bonn, Germany for the briefing session.

As UNV is currently adjusting regulations, please ask questions concerning spouse and child allowance during a potential interview.

Please check the specific Conditions of Service available on the UNV website.

cinfo is not specialised in the area of social security topics which may vary according to each individual situation. However, our partner Soliswiss could assist with such issues.

All assignments are in priority countries as determined by SDC and PHRD. The assignments may take place in post-conflict areas; however, it’s unlikely that you will be posted in a country where there is an active conflict/war.

No. However, there are cases where the overseas host organisation has found additional means to extend the assignment under a different contract.

Yes. However, finding a suitable position may be difficult, as there are few of these within the UN system that are open to professionals with less than 3 years of relevant work experience.

No, you can't.

Yes. The UNYV experience is taken into account at 100% rate and will even increase your chances to be selected provided you have the required years of work experience.