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All open positions of the UN Secretariat, including all vacancies in Geneva, can be found on our careers website. For positions of other Geneva-based UN system entities (inside and outside of Geneva), please check their respective career websites: 

• International Labour Organization (ILO)
• UN Migration (IOM)
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
• UN Aids
• UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
• United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
• United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
• United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
• World Trade Organization (WTO)

In addition, other, global UN offices might advertise positions in Geneva. These may equally be found on the entities’ websites. 

The United Nations employs a diverse workforce ranging from architects and doctors to human resources specialists, security officers, technicians, translators, human rights experts, translators and many more. In short: a variety of professional backgrounds are needed at the UN, and candidates of all backgrounds, all ages and nationalities, are encouraged to apply. This said, bear in mind that you are competing with the entire world, and the number of applications we receive for each open vacancy is immense.   Don’t be discouraged if you do not get the position you applied for. 

More information about the UN workforce can be found on the careers website of the UN Secretariat. 

If you have finished a first-level university degree and are pursuing further studies towards a post-graduate degree then you are eligible to apply for an internship at the UN. For more information, please see our page on internships. If you have already completed your university studies and have little or no work experience you might be eligible to register for the Young Professionals Programme. Please visit our page on Employment with the UN.

Students and recent graduates who are interested in an internship at the United Nations can see all open positions on the UN's global careers website. Applications are sent directly via our recruitment platform Inspira. You will need to create an account before applying. 

To be considered for one of our internships, you need to be in one of the categories below:

• enrolled in the final year of an undergraduate university programme (e.g., a bachelors programme),
• enrolled in a graduate programme (e.g., a master’s or Ph.D. programme),
• a recent graduate with a university degree

For more information concerning internships at the United Nations Office at Geneva see our careers page.

It is strongly recommended to apply on-line through Inspira. In exceptional cases where the applicant cannot do so because of technical problems or problems with the server you can of course also send a hard copy of your application by fax, email, or mail.

UNHCR is the UN organization responsible for refugees, asylum seekers, stateless, and internally displaced people. On its platform help.unhcr.org, the UN Refugee agency provides information on how to request asylum, family reunification, work permits etc. It also gives country-specific information, including options to contact UNHCR country offices for help.

Gross and systematic human rights violations can be reported to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Complaints can be filed against one of the 193 Member States of the United Nations. 

There are several complaint procedures within OHCHR. Read all information carefully before submitting a complaint to understand the differences between these procedures and know which procedure to use. It may also prove helpful to seek the support of a local human rights organization or legal advice. 

Complaints against individuals, groups or companies should be addressed through national jurisdiction.

There are only limited options for externals to present their projects to a UN body. UN Geneva does not accept any project proposals. However, some of the UN funds, programmes and agencies may do for specific purposes. 

Projects can be funded or supported through some of the following initiatives. These serve as examples and are not a complete list:

• UN Democracy Fund (civil society, civic engagement, human rights,…)
• Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (environment)
• UNICEF Venture Fund (tech solutions for children’s wellbeing)
• UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and Girls
• The United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
• The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture

The UN Partner Portal, an initiative of several UN entities, actively offers partnership opportunities between the UN and civil society organisations. 

Small businesses in developing countries may receive support through the International Trade Center which helps market and scale business enterprises.

In addition, several UN entities go into partnerships with public or private partners as well as civil society organizations. Further information can be found on their respective websites. 

During emergencies, the UN system, together with partner organizations, starts its humanitarian response. 

At any time, agencies like WFP provide food or cash transfers for people not being able to meet their daily needs. 

However, it is not possible to walk into a UN office and ask for help. The assistance rendered is usually part of a larger response mechanism between the UN, governments and civil society organizations.

To avoid falling victim to fraud related to an alleged job at the UN, please carefully read the fraud warning on our official careers website. 

Most importantly, the United Nations never requests any form of payment at any stage of the recruitment process. Do not pay to secure a position with the UN.

The use of the United Nations name, including any abbreviation thereof, and emblem is reserved for the official purposes of the United Nations and is protected under international law. Unauthorized use of the name and emblem of the UN is prohibited and there are established procedures in place to follow up on allegations of such unauthorized use.