The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) administers two humanitarian funds: the UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery and the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. Both make grants to civil society organisations that give direct assistance to survivors. This fellowship places two people who already work in such organisations inside the Funds’ secretariat in Geneva, a year each, so they see grant-making from the inside.
Fellows assess incoming project applications, research how slavery and torture are developing in particular country situations, gather practice from existing grantees, help prepare the Boards of Trustees’ sessions, and contribute to outreach material. OHCHR states plainly that this is not a regular employment position and carries no employment rights beyond the fellowship terms. The most recent call offered two placements, running 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027 and 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2027.
Benefits & funding
- Monthly stipend covering basic living expenses in Geneva. OHCHR does not publish the amount.
- Return flight ticket from and to the fellow’s country of residence.
- Basic health insurance for the duration of the placement.
- One year in post, opening with a two-month probationary period; an extension of up to one further year is possible, subject to funding.
- A working place inside the Humanitarian Funds Secretariat at the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva, with hands-on involvement in grant evaluation and Board of Trustees sessions.
- Not a UN employment contract: no employment rights beyond the terms of the fellowship.
Eligibility
- Required: at least two years of experience on human rights issues related to contemporary forms of slavery and/or torture.
- Required: experience providing support to survivors of contemporary forms of slavery and/or torture.
- Required: a working level of spoken and written English.
- Desirable, not required: project management experience, knowledge of the UN system, fluency in French or Spanish, and knowledge of Arabic, Chinese or Russian.
- Availability for the full duration of the placement.
- No degree, nationality, residency or age requirement is stated. The application form asks for nationality and date of birth but sets no limit on either.
- A nominating organisation is optional; if there is one, it completes Part II of the form.
- OHCHR states that it strongly encourages applications from people who have lived through slavery or torture and now support other survivors, and from staff of organisations previously funded by the Humanitarian Funds. Both are encouragements, not conditions.
- UN staff rule 4.7 applies: a candidate may not be an immediate family member of a UN staff member.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Experience required
≥ 2 yrs
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Application process
- 1Download the terms of reference and the application form from the programme page.
- 2Complete and sign the application form; if there is a nominating organisation, it completes Part II.
- 3Prepare a CV of no more than two pages.
- 4Email both documents to ohchr-unvfvt@un.org before the closing date — 15 April 2026 in the most recent round.
- 5Shortlisted candidates sit a written exam and an interview.
- 6Selected fellows take up the post in Geneva, starting with a two-month probationary period.
Program timeline
call for applications opened
20 February 2026
15 April 2026
deadline for the 2026 round
After the deadline
written exam and interviews for shortlisted candidates
1 August 2026
first placement begins, running to 31 July 2027
1 January 2027
second placement begins, running to 31 December 2027
Next call
not announced. OHCHR issues this call irregularly — the previous one ran from February to March 2022