United Nations Jobs, Purpose, and Mission Statement
With so many different countries, sovereign states, and political powers around the world: how do we ensure peace? Well, world leaders form and join organisations whose primary focus is to harmonise the actions between nations. In today’s blog, we’ll be exploring United Nations jobs, purpose, and mission statement. As well as discover how this organisation came to be.
What is the UN?
The United Nations (also known as the UN) is an intergovernmental organisation aiming to:
- maintain international peace and security
- develop friendly relations among nations
- achieve international cooperation
- be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations
It is headquartered on international territory in New York City, Additionally, it has other main offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, and the Hague.
How Did It Come To Be?
The UN established itself after World War II. It succeed the ineffective League of Nations with the aim of preventing future wars. On the 25 April 1945, 50 governments met in San Francisco for a conference and started drafting the UN Charter. This took effect on the 24th of October that year. At its founding, the UN had 51 member states. As it now stands, membership is at 193. Thus, representing almost all of the world’s sovereign states.
Amongst peace, the United Nations objectives also include:
- protecting human rights
- delivering humanitarian aid
- promoting sustainable development
- upholding international law
Principle Organs and Other Agencies
To oversee these objectives, the UN has six principle organs:
- General Assembly: decides the admission of new members and adopts the budget. Thus, acting as the main assembly for the UN.
- Security Council: responsible for maintaining international peace and security, has five permanent members and ten elected members.
- Economic and Social Council: responsible for state co-operation regarding economic and social matters, and co-ordinates numerous specialised agencies.
- Trusteeship Council: It managed colonial possessions that were former League of Nations mandates. Because this is no longer necessary, it is inactive.
- International Court of Justice: decides disputes between states, issues legal options, and renders judgement by relative majority.
- UN Secretariat: provides administrative support (including report written and budget preparation).
This system also include a multitude of specialised agencies, funds and programmes such as:
- Bank Group: make leveraged loans to developing countries.
- Health Organisation: its main objective is “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health” thus providing relevant information and helping to eradicate diseases such as small pox.
- Food Programme: a food assistance branch and the largest distributer of school meals.
- UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation): promotes the aims of the UN through international cooperation in education, science and culture. Thus encouraging literacy, press freedom, and cultural diversity around the world.
- UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund): provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children around the world. Additionally, their activities focus on: immunisation, nutrition and sanitation, and emergency relief.
United Nations Jobs
Interested in support this organisations mission? Then, check out these United Nations jobs.
UN staff are “International Civil Servants” and classified into various categories, each reflecting different levels of responsibilities and remuneration. However, some United Nations jobs can only be obtained by political appointment.
Others, such as Professionals or Directors, have the minimum requirements of:
- A Master’s Degree
- Excellent command of English, and/or French, Spanish, Russian, or Arabic
General Service staff carry out support functions, including administration, secretarial, and clerical work. These jobs require:
- A High School Diploma (at least)
- Several years of work experience relevant to the jobs and its level
But, how do you gain the experience?
- Programmes exist for young professionals to have training in the various organs and agencies within the UN. Therefore, providing the experience need to apply for the job.
- Volunteer with an organisation in your area of expertise. Additionally, gain field experience, get to know other cultures, and learn to live in unfamiliar circumstances.
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