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    How to find consulting opportunities with UNFPA

    Victoria Fernandes, head of strategic sourcing with UNFPA, explains how the agency searches for consultants with specific expertise for short-term projects.

    By Emma Smith // 07 March 2019
    Landing a full-time role at the United Nations can be a challenge, but consulting can be a great way to get your foot in the door — or to stay involved with the agency, explained Victoria Fernandes, head of strategic sourcing with the U.N. Population Fund. These short term consulting gigs can help you gain experience that the agency values, such as field experience, Fernandes told Devex during a recent webinar on landing a job with the U.N. And, while there is a mandatory retirement age for U.N. staffers, there is no age limit when it comes to consultancies, she explained, so there can also be opportunities for those who have retired from the system but want to keep working on development projects. Fernandes explained how UNFPA uses the U.N.-wide consultant roster to search for candidates or will advertise individual consultancy roles if looking for specific skill sets. She also highlighted some of the main differences between consultancies and staff positions, including contract length and how salaries are set. Watch the clip here and the full video here.

    Landing a full-time role at the United Nations can be a challenge, but consulting can be a great way to get your foot in the door — or to stay involved with the agency, explained Victoria Fernandes, head of strategic sourcing with the U.N. Population Fund.

    These short term consulting gigs can help you gain experience that the agency values, such as field experience, Fernandes told Devex during a recent webinar on landing a job with the U.N.

    And, while there is a mandatory retirement age for U.N. staffers, there is no age limit when it comes to consultancies, she explained, so there can also be opportunities for those who have retired from the system but want to keep working on development projects.

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    About the author

    • Emma Smith

      Emma Smith@emmasmith_bcn

      For four years, Emma Smith covered careers and recruitment, among other topics, for Devex. She now freelances for Devex and has a special interest in mental health, immigration, and sexual and reproductive health. She holds a degree in journalism from Glasgow Caledonian University and a master’s in media and international conflict.

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