Giving back to others by volunteering your time and skills can be rewarding and impactful. There are several opportunities to volunteer in humanitarian aid around the world, particularly for young people and those with extensive work experience. Volunteering can also be a good way to gain insight if you are considering a career in the humanitarian sector at home or abroad, or if you want to get a foot in the door at the United Nations.
Please note: DONARE has compiled key resources on how to get started. The overview may also include information on related fields such as development or human rights work, as well as humanitarian action in your local community.
Volunteer Programs
United Nations Volunteers
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) is based at the German UN Hub in Bonn, with around 150 staff members at headquarters and around 13,000 UN Volunteers in the field. UN Volunteers positions are announced on the Unified Volunteering Platform.
Since the United Nations Volunteers program is a United Nations organization that offers volunteer opportunities and mobilizes volunteers in 169 countries, it's a good place to start. There are various volunteering opportunities related to humanitarian action, as the delivery of humanitarian assistance is one of the five main areas of work of the United Nations.
According to the UN Charter, one of the purposes of the United Nations is to "achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character".
Unified Volunteering Platform
Age Requirements
The minimum age to serve as an international UN Volunteer is 18 years, but there are specific requirements for different categories.
- UN Youth Volunteers, including University Volunteers, are between 18 and 26 years old and work with UN agencies on the front lines of political, development and humanitarian operations.
- UN Volunteer Specialists must be at least 27 years old and above.
- UN Expert Volunteers must be 35 years of age or older.
- Although there is no general age limit for applicants, there is sometimes a maximum age of 80 for volunteers.
- As a point of reference: the average age of all volunteers in service is around 35 years.
Duration of Assignments
Assignments for UN Volunteers generally last from 3 to 12 months, with the possibility of extension up to a maximum of four years. Assignments for UNV Specialists and UNV Experts may last from 3 months to 4 years.
Allowances
UN Volunteers are entitled to certain allowances to support their assignment. Allowances should not be considered as compensation, reward or salary in exchange for volunteering. The purpose of the allowances is to enable UN Volunteers to maintain a secure standard of living during their assignment.
Please note: Online volunteers do not receive a living allowance or any other form of financial compensation or benefits.
National Volunteers
About two-thirds of all volunteers in the UN system are National Volunteers. National UN Volunteers receive a Volunteer Living Allowance to maintain a basic, decent and safe lifestyle. Those who are required to relocate in order to assume their role in a new assignment will receive funds to assist with travel expenses.
https://www.unv.org/become-volunteer/volunteer-your-country
International Volunteers
Roughly one-third of all volunteers in the UN system work as International Volunteers. International UN Volunteers promote peace and development in communities around the world while upholding the ideals and aspirations of the United Nations. They come from more than 160 countries and represent a wide range of cultures and backgrounds, bringing with them a diversity of perspectives and approaches.
https://www.unv.org/become-volunteer/volunteer-abroad
Online Volunteers
Through UNV's Online Volunteering Service, you can connect with UN entities, governments, public institutions and civil society organizations. As a UN Online Volunteer, you can support organizations remotely in assignments of up to 20 hours per week for a maximum of 12 weeks per assignment.
https://www.unv.org/become-online-volunteer
UN Youth Volunteers
UN Youth Volunteers work with UN agencies on the front lines of political, development and humanitarian operations. Youth Volunteers receive a basic living allowance to enable them to live healthily and safely in their assigned area. If you are volunteering outside your home area, return air or ground transportation and some other basic expenses will be covered by the host agency.
International UN Volunteer Specialists and UN Expert Volunteers
UNV positions are recognized as valuable UN work experience and offer experienced professionals the chance to take their careers to the next level. UNV Specialists and Experts are professionals with several years of experience in their field of expertise who have sought specific assignments ranging from 3 months to 4 years.
Volunteer Specialists/Experts may be assigned to peacekeeping or humanitarian missions. Cost of living, family allowance, travel, health and life insurance, and other expenses are fully covered. You can apply even if you have no previous experience with the UN or in the field. There is no general age limit for candidates.
UN Volunteer Specialists
Core Requirements
- At least 27 years of age for Specialists
- At least 3 years of relevant work experience for Specialists
- Good knowledge of one of the UN working languages (English, French, Spanish)
Find opportunities
https://app.unv.org/?volunteersCategory=CAT_I_SPECIALIST%2CCAT_N_SPECIALIST
UN Expert Volunteers
Core Requirements
- Minimum age of 35 years for Experts
- Minimum of 15 years of professional experience for Experts
- Good knowledge of one of the UN working languages (English, French, Spanish)
Find opportunities
https://app.unv.org/?volunteersCategory=CAT_I_EXPERT%2CCAT_N_EXPERT
United Nations Agencies
You can volunteer for UN agencies that focus on humanitarian aid, such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
World Food Programme
WFP Volunteer Information
https://www.wfp.org/careers/volunteers
WFP Volunteering Opportunities
https://app.unv.org/?hostEntity=WFP
United Nations Children's Fund
UNICEF Volunteer Information
https://www.unicef.org/careers/volunteers-unicef
UNICEF Volunteering Opportunities
https://app.unv.org/?hostEntity=CF
UN Refugee Agency
UNHCR Volunteer Information
https://www.unhcr.org/get-involved/work-us/careers-unhcr/types-contracts-and-appointments/united-nations-volunteers
UNHCR Volunteering Opportunities
https://app.unv.org/?hostEntity=HCR
World Health Organization (WHO).
The World Health Organization recruits volunteers exclusively through the UNV program.
WHO Volunteer Information
https://www.who.int/careers/un-volunteers-programme
WHO Volunteering Opportunities
https://app.unv.org/?hostEntity=WHO
TIP: ReliefWeb: Volunteer Opportunities
The ReliefWeb JOB search also allows you to search for a number of humanitarian volunteering positions with the United Nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
https://reliefweb.int/jobs?advanced-search=%28TY266%29
European Union Programs
The European Commission offers volunteering opportunities in the field of humanitarian aid through the European Solidarity Corps for people aged between 18 and 35 years. European Solidarity Corps volunteering opportunities are generally open to people between the ages of 18 and 30. The upper age limit of 35 applies only to volunteering in the field of humanitarian aid.
Please note: The EU Aid Volunteers program (EUAV) is no longer active. The EUAV was an initiative by the European Union to promote citizens’ volunteerism in humanitarian contexts with no upper age limit.
European Solidarity Corps
Since 2022, the European Solidarity Corps offers new cross-border volunteering opportunities as a European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps to support humanitarian aid operations in third countries. Partner countries include Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Norway, Palestine, Russia, Serbia, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine.
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/young-people/volunteering-humanitarian-aid_en
You can choose to volunteer as an individual or as part of a team.
Individual Volunteering
Individual volunteering can last from 2 to 12 months and is full-time (between 30 and 38 hours per week) and takes place in a third country where there are ongoing humanitarian aid activities and operations.
Team Volunteering
Team Volunteering can last from 2 weeks to 2 months and is full-time (between 30 and 38 hours per week). Young people volunteer with people from at least 2 different countries, the group will be between 5 and 40 volunteers selected by the supporting and host organizations. The volunteering also takes place in a third country where there are ongoing humanitarian aid activities and operations.
How it works
European Solidarity Corps funding is provided in the form of grants to organizations through calls for proposals. Young people who want to take part in such activities have to register on the European Solidarity Corps portal. The portal provides a place where young people and organizations who have received a grant can set up activities and find each other.
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity
How to register
Young people between the ages of 18 and 35 can express their interest in humanitarian volunteering by registering on the European Solidarity Corps portal. They must be legally resident in one of the EU Member States or in Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Turkey. In order to apply for vacancies within the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps, young people must complete a mandatory training.
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/register_en
Costs and Allowances
Volunteers are covered by a supplementary insurance and can access a range of support services such as language support and training, or if they have specific needs. Basic expenses are covered, including travel to and from the project, accommodation and food. Volunteers also receive a small allowance for personal expenses.
Australian Volunteers Program
The Australian Volunteers Program matches skilled Australians with partner organizations in the Pacific, Asia and Africa to help them achieve specific development goals. It's an Australian government-funded initiative that supports global volunteering. While not focused on humanitarian aid, it may still have interesting opportunities for those willing to share their time and skills.
https://www.australianvolunteers.com/
In-Country Volunteering
International volunteering is an opportunity to share your skills and make a meaningful difference in communities around the world.
https://www.australianvolunteers.com/volunteering/why-volunteer-in-country/
Remote Volunteering
Remote volunteering allows Australians to help overseas organisations achieve their development goals without having to travel.
https://www.australianvolunteers.com/volunteering/remote-volunteering/
Hybrid Volunteering
Hybrid volunteering combines in-country and remote volunteering to provide flexible support.
https://www.australianvolunteers.com/volunteering/why-volunteer-hybrid/
Red Cross Movement
As the largest humanitarian network in the world, the Red Cross Movement is another great place to start looking for opportunities to volunteer. By joining your local Red Cross or Red Crescent Society, you can support the work of the Red Cross Movement and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Volunteering with National Societies can be a rewarding experience, as these organizations are the backbone of the Movement. National Society members are often the first on the ground when emergency situations arise. Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies across the world offer volunteer opportunities in a variety of areas, from emergency response to community health and support services. In some cases, you may be able to work internationally.
American Red Cross
Volunteers make the work of the American Red Cross possible. There are many opportunities in your home country. You can also volunteer internationally, become part of the global disaster response, or help restore family connections.
https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities.html
Browse a listing of volunteer opportunities.
https://volunteerconnection.redcross.org/?nd=rco_opportunity_browse_list
Armed conflict, forced displacement and international disasters leave millions of people around the world in urgent need of humanitarian assistance every year. Red Cross and Red Crescent teams help reunite families separated by international crises. Your local Red Cross chapter may have opportunities for you to assist victims of international disasters in finding family members in your community.
https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/volunteer-internationally.html
International Disaster Responders
As an integral part of the world's largest humanitarian network, the American Red Cross maintains a corps of trained disaster responders and strategically positions supplies around the world to provide immediate assistance. These responders are deployed worldwide in a variety of capacities alongside local Red Cross organizations, the IFRC and the ICRC.
German Red Cross
While the German Red Cross (GRC) has thousands of volunteers at home, the organization also offers young people the opportunity to volunteer abroad. The program is called International Voluntary Services. The GRC has many years of experience in emergency relief and development work.
https://www.drk.de/en/be-involved/volunteering-with-the-grc-overseas/
Australian Red Cross
The Australian Red Cross also offers a wide range of volunteering roles.
https://www.redcross.org.au/volunteer/
Search for volunteering opportunities
https://globalaus241.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePortal/en-AU/ausredcross/Site/REDCROSSVOLUNTEERSITE
Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross also offers opportunities at home. Volunteers from many backgrounds bring a variety of skills and experiences to the Canadian Red Cross. From helping in emergencies and disasters, you can make a difference in your community.
https://www.redcross.ca/volunteer
British Red Cross
When you join the British Red Cross, you can volunteer to help with emergencies, support refugees, help in a charity shop and much more.
https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer
Find volunteering opportunities
https://volunteer.redcross.org.uk/opportunities
IFRC Directory
To find more roles within the Red Cross Movement, contact your National Red Cross/Red Crescent Society or your local chapter. You can find useful contact information and websites for all 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world in the IFRC Directory.
https://www.ifrc.org/national-societies-directory
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
With international NGOs, there are not so many opportunities. Most of the activities are nationally based and aimed at supporting the humanitarian organization. Opportunities may include contributing your time and skills through tutoring, ambassadorship, representing the organization at festivals or concerts, working in a charity shop, organizing events, campaigns, and fundraising.
Non-governmental organizations may offer opportunities abroad through the European Solidarity Corps program or the United Nations Volunteers program. Contact your favorite NGO or its national branch to learn more about opportunities not listed below.
The DONARE Directory of Humanitarian Aid Agencies includes brief descriptions of well-known and influential NGOs that respond to humanitarian crises around the world.
https://donare.info/en/aid_agencies
Oxfam
Oxfam is supported by thousands of volunteers around the world. With the NGO, you can work in a charity shop or volunteer at concerts, festivals and other events. There may be other opportunities on the national level. Volunteering opportunities range from organizing events to campaigning and fundraising.
Oxfam Volunteer Worldwide
https://www.oxfam.org/en/take-action/volunteer-us
You can contact your local Oxfam organization to find out how you can become an Oxfam volunteer.
- Oxfam America
- Oxfam Australia
- Oxfam-Solidarité (Belgium)
- Oxfam Wereldwinkels (Belgium)
- Oxfam-Magasins du monde (Belgium)
- Oxfam Canada
- IBIS (Denmark)
- Oxfam France
- Oxfam Germany
- Oxfam Great Britain
- Oxfam Hong Kong
- Oxfam Intermón (Spain)
- Oxfam Ireland
- Oxfam Italy
- Oxfam Novib (Netherlands)
- Oxfam New Zealand
- Oxfam Quebec
- Oxfam South Africa
World Relief
World Relief offers volunteering opportunities throughout the United States.
https://worldrelief.org/volunteer/
Christian Aid
The UK-based organization offers some opportunities at home.
https://www.christianaid.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer
Save the Children US
The NGO offers some opportunities for volunteering.
https://www.savethechildren.org/us/ways-to-help/how-to-volunteer
CARE US
Volunteer opportunities with CARE USA can be found here.
https://www.care.org/get-involved/organize/
Concern Worldwide
With Concern Worldwide you can volunteer in Ireland.
https://www.concern.net/volunteer/volunteer-in-ireland
International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) offers volunteer opportunities to work remotely and in person in the United States.
https://www.rescue.org/volunteer
Danish Refugee Council
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) offers volunteering opportunities in Denmark. Volunteers throughout the country support refugees and people with an ethnic minority background through a broad range of activities. DRC volunteers are organized in volunteer groups across Denmark.
TIP: Idealist.org
The platform offers volunteering opportunities with NGOs that may be related to humanitarian aid.