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Why be a Volunteer
How to become a Volunteer
UN Volunteer benefits
National UN Volunteers
in Lesotho
Why be a Volunteer?
Working and not getting paid, what is the point of working anyways?
Volunteerism is a tremendously rewarding experience and most people
choose to volunteer for various reasons. Individuals volunteer to
acquire familiarity in the field they want work in whilst others may
volunteer to meet new people and gain a wider understanding.
Whatever reasons for volunteering the benefits are immeasurable! If
you would like to know more about individual volunteer experiences
please click here.
How to become a Volunteer?
If you are interested in development work and would like to become a
UN Volunteer, the easiest way to find out if you have the required
qualifications is to fill in an on-line questionnaire found on the
UNV website. On the basis of your answers and the current demands of
the UNV Programme with regard to professional profiles a screening
is done, and you will be subsequently informed of whether you are
accepted on the UNV roster. If you are selected for a UNV assignment
you will be contacted. Please note that being on the roster is not a
guarantee for getting a UNV assignment.
UN Volunteer benefits
Settling-in-grant (SIG)
This one-time grant is given to the UN Volunteer to help her/him in
establishing a new place of residence and to purchase certain basic
household items. The SIG, equivalent to a one month Volunteer Living
Allowance (see below), is paid to the UN Volunteer who is assigned
to a duty station different from her/his place of recruitment and
has an initial contract of at least 12 months, (pro-rated per month
for contracts of shorter durations).
Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA)
UN volunteer is not paid a salary for her/his services. Instead,
they are provided with the VLA on a monthly basis, paid in the local
currency. UNV undertakes no liability for withholding or paying
taxes on behalf of the UNV and the payment shall be the only
responsibility.
Health coverage and insurance:
The United Nations Volunteers Programme has a global insurance
policy with J. Van Breda & Co. Antwerp, Belgium, that provides
health, life and permanent disability insurance coverage. Insurance
will cover the UN volunteer, and three recognized dependants whose
names and dates of birth should be submitted to the HQ. The three
dependants could be either one spouse and two un-married children
under 21 or three un-married children under 21. The insurance will
comprise of life, health and permanent disability, and only health
insurance for the dependants and is effective until the end of the
service contract.
Resettlement Allowance
Upon satisfactory completion of assignment, the UN Volunteer is
entitled to receive the Resettlement Allowance (RSA), which is
accrued at the rate of one month of the Monthly Living Allowance (VLA)
per 12 month-assignment, and pro-rated for shorter durations.
Travel to country of assignment
The UN Volunteer and his or her recognized dependents will be
provided with an economic fare ticket from the home country or the
country of recruitment to the country of assignment. Further, a lump
sum of USD 500 for shipment of personal effects is given to the UNV
and each recognized dependent.
Repatriation travel
Upon completion of the UNV assignment, the UNV and his or her
recognized dependents will be provided with an economy fare ticket
from the country of assignment to the home country or the country of
recruitment. The UNV and each recognized dependent are also given a
lump sum of USD 500 for shipment of personal effects.
National UNV Volunteers in Lesotho
As long ago as 1999, national volunteers were active in Lesotho.
Local Basotho, experienced in development and environmental
management worked with their local communities to build sustainable
development and poverty reduction strategies.
Now, in 2007, the UNV Programme Office is actively working to
revitalise our National UN Volunteer scheme and will keep you posted
on our progress.
If you have any
suggestions, we would love to hear them. Contact the Programme
Office team at
orfhlaith.ramsey@undp.org (Programme Officer) and
ntsieli.tlahali@undp.org
(Country Office Assistant)
For detailed information please visit:
http://www.unv.org/volunteers/options/index.htm
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