UNFPA uses thestaff categoriesemployees throughout the United Nations system. Within each category, there are different levels, reflecting increasing levels of responsibilities and requirements. The information in this section will help you decide which category and level of staff you fit into. This will come in handy when you start researching and applying for jobs.
Broadly speaking, there are three distinct categories of staff within UNFPA and the United Nations system as a whole. Click on the categories below for more information:
Professional Staff (P) and Director (D)
General Service Employees (G)
National Professional Officials (NO)
There are also other types of employment and opportunities at UNFPA and the UN. These are not necessarily staff positions, but rather roles that support the work of UNFPA around the world. Click below for more information:
Temporary employees (also called temporary appointments)
consultants
interns
United Nations Volunteers
junior professional
Holders of service contracts
Cliqueherefor UNFPA language requirements.
Professional and management level team
What are the Professional (P) and Director (D) positions?
R&D positions require strong analytical and communication skills, substantial experience, and often strong leadership skills. There are a variety of jobs within these categories, from program specialists and operations specialists to communications specialists, information systems professionals, and many others. These positions are usuallyinternationally recruited.
Directors represent the highest level in the UNFPA career staff structure. As a manager, you are expected to manage a team, set priorities, and allocate resources for an entire office or unit.
What does UNFPA look for in a candidate for a P or D position?
We are looking for a person above all absolutely committed toUNFPA mandate!
In addition to technical expertise, which varies by role, we want a strategic thinker who gets results, an excellent communicator who is a full-time advocate for the organization, and a team player who embraces the enormous diversity of our workforce.
What education and work experience do I need for P or D positions?
We generally require you to have an advanced college degree for P and D level positions.
These are the work experience requirements for each level:
P1- No work experience required
P2- Minimum 2 years of professional experience.
P3- Minimum 5 years of professional experience.
P4- Minimum 7 years of professional experience.
P5- Minimum 10 years of professional experience.
D1- Minimum 15 years of professional experience.
D2- More than 15 years of professional experience.
Why are P and D staff considered international staff?
Staff in these categories are typically recruited internationally, meaning they are recruited to work in an office (job) outside of their home country. You can expect to serve in different duty stations around the world throughout your career.
For positions at headquarters and regional offices, all nationalities are eligible to apply.
general service staff
What are the General Service (G) positions?
General service roles include administrative, secretarial, and clerical support, as well as specialized positions such as building maintenance. These positions are crucial to the smooth running of the organization as a whole. The higher the position level, the more complex the functions become.
What does UNFPA look for in a candidate for a G post?
As the General Service team supports the running of UNFPA, we seek candidates who achieve results in operational, procedural and technical skills.
Commitment to making UNFPA successful is essential! We want someone who is analytical and can handle routine and complex tasks with dedication.
We also want a great teammate who embraces diversity and is eager to provide creative ideas to improve UNFPA processes.
What education and work experience do I need for General Service (G) category jobs?
Completion of high school is a requirement.
These are the work experience requirements for each level:
G1- No work experience required
G2- Minimum 2 years of professional experience.
G3- Minimum 3 years of professional experience.
G4- Minimum 4 years of professional experience.
G5- Minimum 5 years of professional experience.
G6- Minimum 6 years of professional experience.
G7- Minimum 7 years of professional experience.
Who is eligible to be considered for a G position?
General Service staff are recruited locally in the area where the office/service station is located. They can be of any nationality, but must have legal permission to work in the country where the office/service location is located.
National Professional Directors
What are the National Professional Officer (NO) positions?
NO functions are similar toProfessional papers (P), but they are typically locally recruited, which means that these officers are recruited to work at a service location in their home country.
NO positions typically have a national context, that is, roles that require national experience or knowledge of national language, culture, institutions, and systems.
Jobs for National Professional Officers can only be found in duty stations away from headquarters.
What education and work experience do I need for National Professional Officer (NO) category positions?
An advanced college degree is generally required for National Officer level positions.
These are the work experience requirements for each level:
NOAH- No work experience required
HEAD- Minimum 2 years of professional experience.
CON- Minimum 5 years of professional experience.
ON THE WAVE- Minimum 7 years of professional experience.
Temporary employees
UNFPA recruits temporary staff internationally and locally for limited periods to perform staff functions for which there is no ongoing long-term need, for example, to replace a staff member on extended leave or to work on a project. Due to the short-term nature of the contract, staff in temporary positions do not receive the full benefit package that our regular staff receive. International temporary positions are usually advertised through e-Recruit. Local stalls often advertise locally.
individual consultants
Occasionally, UNFPA hires individuals as individual consultants to perform specialized non-staff functions required by UNFPA on a short-term or intermittent basis to meet a specific requirement. Due to the wide variety of needs served by these types of assignments, the means of engaging individual consultants and the related terms and conditions vary accordingly. Some consultancies are published inunfpa.org/jobs. Others are published at the country level. Prospective applicants can also apply to UNFPAlist of consultants. see morehere.
Internship program
The UNFPA Internship Program offers a small group of exceptional students the opportunity to gain direct exposure to UNFPA operations. It is designed to complement development-oriented studies with practical experience in various aspects of UNFPA's work. Candidates must have an interest in the area of development; Ability to adapt to new environments and work with people from different cultural backgrounds. Interns work under the supervision of a UNFPA staff member. The training of interns is compatible with the needs of the organization. see morehere.
Internship Qualification
Candidates for the internship program are selected on a competitive basis. The profiles of the interns are adjusted to the needs of the organization. Applicants must be enrolled in a degree program at an accredited university or similar educational program. Applicants must be proficient in written and spoken English; fluency in French, Spanish or Arabic is an advantage.
Financial aspects
Interns do not receive remuneration from UNFPA. The costs associated with participating in the program must be borne by the reference institution (which can provide financial assistance to its students) or by the students themselves, who must bear living expenses, as well as make their own accommodation, travel and other requirements. Additionally, applicants must have health insurance for the duration of the internship. Proof of insurance must be submitted prior to the start of the internship.
application procedure
Applicants interested in participating in the UNFPA Internship Program at the New York Headquarters mustapply via e-Recruit. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For information on internships away from headquarters, please contact the appropriate UNFPA office.
United Nations Volunteers Program
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program promotes volunteerism to support peace and development around the world. UNV partners with governments and UN organizations, non-profit organizations and the private sector to support development programmes. UNV identifies and recruits professionals who can provide services and fulfill a wide range of specialized tasks to work as United Nations Volunteers.
UNFPA is one of the UN partners that uses the services of United Nations Volunteers contracted by UNV to help fulfill its mandate.
For more information: If you are interested in learning more about UNV, please visit the UNV website (www.unv.org) to see what types of opportunities are available and to find details on how to apply.
junior professional
UNFPA also participates in the JPO (Junior Professional Officer) program. JPOs are sponsored by their government (or, in some limited cases, a government participating in the JPO program may sponsor a small number of citizens of developing countries).
The objective of the JPO program is to provide young people (generally under the age of 32) who wish to pursue a career in development assistance with work experience within the United Nations system.
CliquehereFor more information.
Holders of service contracts
UNFPA sometimes recruits staff at its field sites as non-staff service contract holders. Service contract holders are generally not located in a UNFPA office, but with an implementing partner. Service contracts are issued in 6-month increments up to one year.
Holders of service contracts must be nationals or have a work permit in the country of work. They typically work in support of implementing partners' project activities, provide the government with additional staff with technical or operational skills, or support functions that would normally be outsourced to a company (eg janitor, gardener).
There are five types of service contracts:
SB1- Represents work in the areas of surveillance, maintenance, security, driving and messaging; this is considered mechanical and physical operations.
SB2- This is more basic processing work, of a support nature, including clerical and administrative work, as well as certain technical functions; This job requires appropriate educational background and relevant work experience.
SB3- This is a specialized work with full support, evolving towards an integrated execution at a higher level; This job requires appropriate educational background and relevant work experience.
SB4- This is work of an analytical nature, which requires a basic conceptual understanding; This job requires appropriate educational background and relevant work experience.
SB5- This represents work of a conceptual, analytical and advisory nature at a senior professional level, related to humanitarian, emergency and development project work which requires substantial innovation and may involve roles of a supervisory nature to oversee the activities of the project. Qualifications at this level include a postgraduate degree and relevant work-compatible experience.
Service contracts are often advertised locally. For more information, contact the UNFPA office in your area.
language requirements
What languages do I need to know to be considered for a job at UNFPA?
An excellent command of English is required to work at UNFPA. In rare cases, a working knowledge of English and fluency in the service station language are sufficient. Language requirements will always be stated in the job description for a job.
The official languages of the United Nations are: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Knowledge of languages, in addition to the requirements of the job description, is considered an advantage.
FAQs
What are the categories in UN? ›
- Professional and higher categories (P and D)
- General Service and related categories (G, TC, S, PIA, LT)
- National Professional Officers (NO)
- Field Service (FS)
- Senior Appointments (SG, DSG, USG and ASG)
It is generally considered hard to get a job at the UN for several main reasons: language skills requirements, high competition, specific experience, and a rigorous selection process.
How long does it take to hear back from a UN interview? ›A common interview is arranged by Skype but can be personal. Examples of interview questions you may see here. If your Interview is succeeded you will receive a job offer on the email after 1 - 2 weeks (sometimes it may even after 1 month).
What is P3 level in UN? ›P1 - No work experience required. P2 - Minimum of 2 years of work experience. P3 - Minimum of 5 years of work experience. P4 - Minimum of 7 years of work experience.
What are the 6 UN bodies? ›The United Nations (UN) has six main organs. Five of them — the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council and the Secretariat — are based at UN Headquarters in New York. The sixth, the International Court of Justice, is located at The Hague in the Netherlands.
Does the UN pay well? ›The United Nations offers you an attractive remuneration package with competitive pay and benefits. The level of pay for staff in the Professional and higher categories that are recruited internationally is set by reference to the highest paying national civil service.
How much does a UN position pay? ›How much does United Nations in the United States pay? The average United Nations salary ranges from approximately $45,000 per year for Technician to $300,000 per year for Head of Customer Service.
Do UN employees make a lot of money? ›For entry level professionals (P1 - P3) the annual net base salary for example can range from USD 37,000 - 80,000 (obviously this can range from organization and is used as a guideline only). Having said that, salaries, grants and allowances paid by the United Nations are normally exempt from income tax!
How do I pass the UN interview? ›...
Useful tips for your interview:
- Prepare a wide range of brief real life stories about your accomplishments. ...
- Be ready to discuss your strengths and your ability to learn from past experiences. ...
- Review the competencies mentioned in the job opening.
A short-list of candidates should consist of a minimum of two and (generally) a maximum of four candidates.
How do you get selected for the UN? ›
Appointment at the United Nations is subject to satisfactory and complete verification of academic qualifications and employment and reference checks. If you are a candidate under closer consideration, the information you provided will be verified and you will be notified accordingly.
What is a G4 salary? ›What is the salary trajectory of an Administrative Assistant (G4)? The salary trajectory of an Administrative Assistant (G4) ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $43,833 per year and goes up to $160,041 per year for the highest level of seniority. Salaries. >
Is UN salary tax free in US? ›The United States does not exempt the United Nations earnings of its taxpayers from taxes.
What is the salary of a p2? ›Wondering how much a P-2 is paid? The base salary is usually between 57,661 USD and 78,318 USD per year. It's common to have salary adjustments depending on the location. Salaries, grants and allowances paid by the United Nations are normally exempt from income tax.
What is the UN shame list? ›The “list of shame” is an important accountability mechanism and currently includes 57 government armed forces and non-state armed groups responsible for grave violations against children in armed conflict.
Which is the most powerful organ of the UN? ›The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN. All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation.
What are the 4 pillars? ›- Peace and Security.
- Human Rights.
- The Rule of Law.
- Development.
The Security Council consists of ten elected members, and five permanent members--China, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and the Russian Federation.
How many countries are not in the UN? ›Two countries are not members of the U.N : Palestine and the Holy See (Vatican City).
How many UN groups are there? ›At present, the U.N. has in total 15 specialized agencies that carry out various functions on behalf of the UN. The specialized agencies are listed below.
How much does a UN soldier make? ›
Countries volunteering uniformed personnel to peacekeeping operations are reimbursed by the UN at a standard rate, approved by the General Assembly, of US$1,428 per soldier per month as of 1 July 2019. Police and other civilian personnel are paid from the peacekeeping budgets established for each operation.
What is the highest UN salary? ›According to our data, the highest paying job at United Nations is a Deputy Director at $200,000 annually while the lowest paying job at United Nations is a Help Desk Assistant at $18,000 annually.
What is p5 level in UN? ›P-5: Ten years of relevant professional work experience. D-1: Twelve to thirteen years of relevant professional work experience. D-2: Over fifteen years of relevant professional work experience.
Are UN salaries negotiable? ›In most UN agencies, job conditions prescribed by the offer cannot be negotiated, with the exception of the working step.
What is the highest paying occupation? ›| OCCUPATION | 2021 MEDIAN PAY |
|---|---|
| Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers | $202,180 per year |
| Anesthesiologists | Equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
| Cardiologists | Equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
| Dermatologists | Equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
You Can Work All Around The World
If you want a job where you can travel, joining the United Nations is fantastic option. Many UN staff members work in different countries throughout their career. Getting this international professional experience through the UN is definitely a great thing about a UN job.
The UN system is bureaucratic and complicated
As a huge organization, the UN is difficult to navigate. Settling into a career in such a complex system is frustrating to many people. Recruitment, job structure, and trying to move up in the organization are frequent sources of stress for workers.
You Often Get to Travel
With different UN agencies all around the world, jobs at the UN can give a lot of opportunity to travel and this is one of the reasons it is good to work for. Many people with UN careers travel frequently, often between meetings at different regional HQs and bases in the field.
It depends. The more you've hired for a role in the past, the higher the pass rate (30-50%), and the less you've hired for a position in the past, the lower the pass rate (10-30%). If you feel something is “off” in your interview process, the pass rate can be a good indicator of where the problem is.
What are the most common UN interview questions? ›- Tell me about a time when you where part of a successful team?
- What was your role in the team?
- What were the problems in the team and how did you solve them?
What questions are asked at the UN interview? ›
UN JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR TEAMWORK
What did you like about working in the group? What did you dislike? How did you get the team members to cooperate? When have your personal objectives been at odds with those of the team?
You may wonder how many candidates make it to the final interview, but the number usually varies depending on the company. On average, about two to four candidates make it to the final interview. For the final interview, employers usually invite individuals who performed well in previous interviews.
How long does the UN take to shortlist? ›In most cases, applicants will only get contacted and are handled in a more individual manner if they pass the first stage of shortlisting. The end to end process of applying to securing a job can take up to 4 months but the first stage notification for an interview can be fairly quick.
How many people fail interviews? ›According to the latest data, a whopping 98% of people fail interviews. An average job posting gets about 250 applications, and most employers usually interview no more than ten candidates or 2–3%. Of course, there are plenty of reasons for failing an interview.
What is the best UN agency to work for? ›As one of the most important UN agencies, UNDP is one of the best to work for. With over 7,000 staff and projects in 170 countries, UNDP has a massive impact across the developing world.
What does g6 mean in UN salary scale? ›This is a G-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education.
What is the salary of g5 in UN? ›The salary of a G-5 depends on the duty station. The minimum salary there is 77,958 INR (~947 USD) Please note that depending on the location, a higher post adjustment might still result in a lower purchasing power.
What is the salary range for g5? ›| Job Title | Range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Analyst | Range:$39k - $70k (Estimated *) | Average:$52,161 |
| Senior Product Designer | Range:$70k - $124k (Estimated *) | Average:$95,162 |
| Senior UX Designer | Range:$62k - $101k (Estimated *) | Average:$79,387 |
Staff assessment: Staff assessment is a form of internal tax administered by the organizations in order to provide the required amount of funds for the payment of taxes on United Nations salaries. United Nations salaries are set in reference to the net salary of the comparator.
Is the IRS part of the UN? ›The IRS is an agency of the International Monetary Fund, which is an agency of the United Nations. No law has ever passed legalizing the charging of income tax. AP ASSESSMENT: False. The IRS is an agency of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Do UN employees pay taxes in Geneva? ›
On the basis of the Vienna Convention and the agreements on privileges, immunities and facilities, members of permanent missions and international organisations are exempt from paying federal, cantonal and communal taxes.
What is 3P salary? ›3P salary is a remuneration model for employees based on a combination of salary payment according to 3 basic factors: job position, personal capacity and work results.
How much does a E2 make per paycheck? ›| Rank | <2 Years Experience | 4 Years Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Private (E1) | $4,026.96* | $4,026.96 |
| Private (E2) | $4,513.32 | $4,513.32 |
| Private First Class (E3) | $4,745.79 | $5,349.96 |
| Specialist or Corporal (E4) | $5,257.35 | $6,121.08 |
Band 8B - 1st pay point
A person on this NHS pay point will pay £391.43 a month of National Insurance, £614.29 a month NHS Pension contributions and £672.68 a month Tax. This makes their net (take home) pay £3,235.93 a month. The 5% NHS pay rise has increased this pay point from £56,164 to £58,972 a year.
Five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly (with end of term year): Albania (2023)
What is the salary of a g6 in the UN? ›The salary of a G-6 depends on the duty station. The minimum salary there is 7,080 CHF (~7,869 USD) Please note that depending on the location, a higher post adjustment might still result in a lower purchasing power.
When did China leave the UN? ›The Republic of China's UN seat was removed and replaced with a seat for the People's Republic of China on 25 October 1971.
How is UN seating arranged? ›Seating in the General Assembly hall is determined by alphabetical ordering of each country's English name (each year the starting point is rotated), as is the ordering of the flag display outside the headquarters in New York.
How are UN seats arranged? ›Countries are seated alphabetically in the General Assembly according to English translations of the countries' names. The country which occupies the front-most left position is determined annually by the secretary-general via ballot draw. The remaining countries follow alphabetically after it.
Why are there only 5 permanent members of the UN? ›According to Oppenheim's International Law : United Nations, "Permanent membership in the Security Council was granted to five states based on their importance in the aftermath of World War II." Sometimes referred to as the P5, the permanent members of the Security Council have a unique role that has evolved over time.
Is the US in the United Nations? ›
The United States is one of the United Nations' most important stakeholders. The UN was created at the initiative of the US after World War II. Washington provides the largest financial contribution to the UN's overall budget. The US hosts the UN's headquarters in New York.
What is a G5 UN salary? ›The salary of a G-5 depends on the duty station. The minimum salary there is 6,464 CHF (~7,132 USD) Please note that depending on the location, a higher post adjustment might still result in a lower purchasing power.
Are UN salaries tax free? ›Income taxes: Most member states have granted United Nations staff exemption from national income taxation on their United Nations emoluments. However, a few member States do tax the emoluments of their nationals. In such cases, the organizations reimburse the income tax to the staff member.
What is the salary of a g7 in the UN? ›The salary of a G-7 depends on the duty station. The minimum salary there is 7,751 CHF (~8,627 USD) Please note that depending on the location, a higher post adjustment might still result in a lower purchasing power.