Fact-check: This is not the way to apply for the UN Volunteer Program

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A Facebook post advertisement run by a page called “Application Date” in the media/news company category about the United Nations Volunteer Program 2022, a fully funded international volunteer program, encouraging people to apply, is false.

Since September 5, 2022, the post has received over 3,400 interactions, 1,800 comments, and 140 comments.

Is it necessary for a United Nations Volunteer Program applicant to communicate with the “Application Date” Facebook page in order to apply? No, and here is why:

When one clicks apply for jobs on the page, it takes them to a messenger chat box with the page, where they receive a suspicious message saying, “Congratulations! …..you have qualified to apply for a job in Canada or the United States, please apply using the link provided.”

They then provide a link to Nguniversities.com, which claims to be an educational website established with the goal of providing quality and reliable information about every institution and scholarship opportunities; however, it is not the official website for the UN Volunteers Program.

The NG Universities website includes a web page menu bar with various categories and/or programs such as scholarships, study abroad, international jobs, and internships.

There is no open link for the UN Volunteer program 2022 unless one searches the menu bar on the NG Universities’ website, where it directs to the expired UN Volunteer program 2022, which was posted on September 25th, 2021.

There are also links to other categories from various UN agencies, including other institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which was posted on August 22, 2022. UN volunteer programs and internships are among the categories.

Where can one obtain reliable information about the UN Volunteer Program?

The right United Nations Volunteers (UNV), a program administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) can be got on their website: https://www.unv.org/

UN Volunteer assignments are advertised on its Unified Volunteering Platform. In order for interested candidates to apply for assignments, they need to register in the UN Global Talent Pool.

“You can visit this page if you wish to register in our Global Talent Pool to become a UN Volunteer,” UN Volunteers states on its website.

Conclusion:

While it is true that opportunities for the UN Volunteers program exist, the procedures with which the Application Date Facebook page advertises and directs the applicants is false.