What development professionals should know before working at the UN

Spanning 193 countries with myriad different agencies and agendas, all with the remit of solving the world’s most complex global problems, the United Nations is an employer unlike any other. But it’s likely that those who are new to development and are considering a career with the U.N. haven’t thought through — or are not aware of in the first place — all that working for such a prestigious global entity entails, meaning they may go into the system unprepared, former and current U.N. staffers told Devex. “Things come out that you don't expect,” said a former UN Refugee Agency, or UNHCR, worker who was based in Burundi, Ethiopia, and the Philippines but asked to remain anonymous. “We idealize working for the U.N. so I think it meets the expectations in a positive sense, but then … the downsides of working with the U.N. probably come more as a surprise.” The U.N. currently employs over 44,000 people globally across five categories of positions, exclusive of the numerous contractors and consultants it also engages with on a more temporary basis. While contracts and terms of engagement can vary along with the nature of the role and location it's based in, those who spoke to Dexex said there was information that could be useful to anyone hoping to work for the multilateral. Don’t be in a rush to join the UN Those who are young and early in their career shouldn’t necessarily see a U.N. agency as a place to quickly get into and spend the rest of their life, said retiree Andreas Seiter, who worked at the World Bank for 18 years. “I find myself advising young people who have been with the bank for a few years to look for something outside the bank. You have a more direct impact when you're working for a smaller consulting firm or [doing] practical development work,” he said. Seiter was a doctor and worked in the pharmaceutical industry for years before being seconded to the World Bank and eventually taking up a permanent position. In taking time outside the system to develop a skill base, individuals can establish themselves and will later be in a better position to work within the system. “You’ll have credentials and then you can apply for any level position,” Seiter said. For those who do enter at a young age — perhaps via the Young Professionals Programme — there is the potential to leave and come back to the U.N. Now more than ever, said a Philippines-based staffer, people can fluctuate between the U.N. and the private sector, meaning that there is no need to be wedded to the system for the length of one’s career. Rather, he advised to focus on passions and interests, and forging a path from there, rather than being set on obtaining any role within the system. “At least that's what I've done because it shows more authenticity and sincerity and it will show in the work that you do as well finding something that you're truly interested in and passionate about,” he said. Familiarize yourself with contractual nuances The U.N. has many different types of contracts, and these can differ based on a position’s category and grading, the location of the post, the budget a country office or project has, and whether it’s a full-time or temporary position. There can also be big disparities between the salaries of international staff and national staff, especially in developing countries, said the former UNHCR worker. An annual U.N. base salary can range between $31,000 and $123,000 but some positions also come with what’s called a “post adjustment,” which accounts for the cost of living in the duty station of the position. Other benefits can include rental subsidies, dependency allowances, education grants, travel and shipping expenses, hardship allowances, hazard pay, health insurance, and tax exemption. “It gets very complicated because there are different types of modalities and many people aren't aware of that. Even within those modalities, there's many little nuances that make a big difference in your income,” said the Philippines-based staffer. “You have to go in with your eyes open. The contract that you enter into matters greatly. I always hear of people who are new to the U.N. and find out that in their contract they pay taxes when they enter a specific country but that some countries have host country agreements where you wouldn't pay taxes,” he said. When people receive a contract, they must then read the fine print, said Daniel Ifegwu Iroegbu, who has previously consulted for UNICEF and the World Bank on menstrual hygiene management and is co-founder of Drany's Pad. “Know your terms of engagement,” he advised, adding that building a network can also help in navigating these contractual systems. Idealism could hold you back Given associations with celebrity ambassadors, the General Assembly, and heroic humanitarian work, there may be preconceived notions of what it’s like to work at the U.N., said a Thailand-based U.N. worker from Europe. “But the U.N. doesn't need anyone who idealizes the system. If you idealize the system as it is now, you're not going to make a contribution,” she said. This is important as the U.N. works to reform and restructure in a bid to better equip itself to achieve the 2030 sustainable development agenda. “What we need is smart people who are feet-on-the-ground, want to bring a change, know that the system is there, contribute to reforms, and have an impact,” said the staffer. “If you step into the U.N. thinking that you're going to save the world, you’ll be very much disappointed.” Instead it’s important to be aware that, just like other workplaces, there can be issues of corruption, mistrust, and “stabbing in the back,” she explained. With this in mind, you should manage your expectations, said the former UNHCR worker. “As in any other place of work, things happen, and there are abuses of power, sexual exploitation … it has its problems, and you need to be prepared to face that.” Expect change and progress to be slow People also need to know that within the U.N., things move slower “in terms of getting a project through [and] getting it to completion,” said a former U.N. consultant who was based in Myanmar. This includes finding the right people to sign off on decisions. “There are all these different stakeholders coming back and convening that you need to work through … Sometimes you miss the moment,” the consultant said. If an individual has worked in other development organizations or even the private sector, this might come as a surprise as it did for one Senegal national who had over 25 years of experience in leading development organizations before taking a senior position at UNICEF in Senegal. “I didn't fit well into the culture. It is quite different from the NGO culture,” he said, explaining that he resigned after 13 months. Compared to working for a private company, the pace is often slower at U.N. agencies, Seiter explained, which can mean that it’s quite often difficult to see the immediate results of your work. “But when you're out there long enough, at one point you will see it,” he said. “You have to have a long term perspective.” There are many opportunities for self-development Once inside the system, interviewees said there is a wealth of learning to be done and training to engage in that individuals should take advantage of. UNICEF, for example, has an online training platform “where you can get any kind of training you want,” said the former UNICEF staffer. Outside of formal training, Rodriguez said a lot can be learned from just interacting with the people within the system and hearing about the projects they run. “I won't say it's like studying another Masters, but it really gives you great perspective and a bigger picture, but with a lot of details of the topics that you really like.” As a Mexican national, she described learning a lot during her 18 months at UN Women about what her government was doing to address certain issues. She urged others starting out at the U.N. to take and learn as much as possible. “Use the advantage that the U.N. gives you to foster your career,” she said, adding that it’s also possible to move between positions and agencies. “If you are in UNHCR and then you want to move to UN Women, that's possible and easier than if you’ve never been in the U.N,” she said. To do this, she suggested interacting with other teams and volunteering to help in other areas. Most importantly, remember to be yourself, Iroegbu said. There are so many people from diverse backgrounds within the U.N. so there’s no need to try and be British or Australian, he explained. “I’m proud to be a Nigerian everywhere I go. Just be who you are. It’ll make your work easier,” he said. Sign up to Devex Career Hub for global development’s top jobs, expert career advice, and practical tips to help you do more good for more people.