To enable the people of Hong Kong to participate in the international volunteer effort and to enhance Hong Kong's reputation as an international city that cares about the less fortunate people around the globe, Agency for Volunteer Service (AVS) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with United Nations Volunteers to become its cooperating organization and the focal point of UNV activities in Hong Kong. The role of AVS is to promote public awareness of the UNV Programme and its requirements for experienced professional people and to facilitate the enrollment and recruitment of Hong Kong volunteers for international assignments. AVS is the intermediate agency as the contract of appointment is entirely between the applicants concerned and UNV.

AVS has enlisted and obtained the support of many professional and industrial associations in Hong Kong. Under the auspices of AVS, the Hong Kong, China Committee on UNV (The Committee) has been set up. The Committee comprises the following non-profit making organizations, including: Agency for Volunteer Service, Hong Kong Dental Association, Hong Kong Institute of Planners, Institute of Certified Public Accountantss, International Chamber of Commerce-Hong Kong China, The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, The Hong Kong Medical Association, and The Law Society of Hong Kong.

With AVS providing the secretariat for executive functions, the Committee is responsible for developing strategies to promote and execute the UNV Programme in Hong Kong and for monitoring progress; for disseminating information about the UNV Programme and for endorsing the initial evaluation of applications before transmission to UNV for appraisal.

• Service area
  Since 1971, about 30,000 volunteers have worked in over 160 countries. Some 38 percent of them work in Africa, 32 percent in Asia and the Pacific region, 13 per cent serve in Europe, the Baltic States and CIS , 11 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean and the remaining 6 per cent in the Arab States.
  The technical cooperation and community-based work involves many sectors: UNV's recruitment roster includes over 100 job categories, in a range of professional areas, including: administration, finance and information technologies; agriculture, mass media; education and training; engineering; transport and communication; vocational trades and handicrafts; health; architecture, urban planning and heritage; natural sciences and resources; social sciences; law; project development; commerce and industry; emergency assistance and elections.
  
• Qualifications and Experience
  • A university degree or higher technical diplomas;
  • Several years of relevant working experience;
  • At least 25 years of age (no maximum age limit);
  • Good working knowledge in at least one of the three working UN languages: English, French and Spanish
  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
  • Ability to adjust in difficult living conditions;
  • Strong interpersonal and organizational skills;
  • Prior volunteering and /or working experience in a developing country is an asset.
    
• Terms of Service
  The vast majority of assignments are from one to two years. However, there are some short-term assignments that are from six to twelve months long, which are renewable at the request of the hosts and with the agreement of all parties. The airfare from home country to that of assignment, and return is provided. A modest settling-in grant and a monthly living allowance (MLA) is provided, as is a resettlement allowance based on the number of months served. Housing and basic utilities are also provided. Provision is made for health and life insurance, basic local transport and orientation and local language training. Most (but not all) developmental UNV specialists may be accompanied by spouse and other immediate dependents; however, the funding of travel, settling-in allowance and MLA extends to a maximum of three dependents. Field workers normally serve unaccompanied. Leave accrues at 2.5 working days per month served. Home leave is granted periodically to UN Volunteers and their recognized dependents.

• Scope of Work
  UNV's Corporate/Private Sector programme links technical experts and managers with private companies, state-owned enterprises and government institutions. They share their business and technical skills in management, marketing, planning, production, design, infrastructure, environment and finance. Clients are most commonly small and medium enterprises, manufacturers associations and chambers of commerce, state owned enterprises in the process of restructuring or privatization and government institutes providing support to the above categories.
• Qualifications and Experience
  Volunteers under the Corporate/Private Sector programme should have at least a University degree and a minimum of 15 years relevant working experience. Fluency in at least one or more languages. They should be dedicated and motivated to sharing technical knowledge and skills.
• Terms of Service
  Corporate/Private Sector programme advisers are engaged on short-term assignment lasting, from one week to a maximum period of three months, but they are not entitled to UN privileges or UN identification. The airfare from home country to that of assignment and return is met. A per diem at UN rates in duty station is provided as is a terminal allowance. Advisors do not require medical clearance but they need to carry their own health and life insurance policies during the assignment.

Download:  UNV Application Form