Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

I passed the assessment for mission service, do I need to take it again in mission?

• No. The Standard Operating Procedures harmonize the process for assessment by UN teams in Police Contributing Countries by the Selection Assistance and Assessment Team (SAAT) and the tests conducted upon arrival in the missions. Candidates that have been AMS cleared by a SAAT will only have to take a driving test upon arrival in the mission to obtain a UN drivers license.

I passed the assessment for mission service. How long is it valid for?

• The validity of the clearance is two years.

If I return to my national police service after serving UN police, do I need to take the assessment again?

• A UN police officer that has served for more than six month in a UN PKO or SPM can be re-deployed to any mission with the same mission language within two years of leaving the first mission. This reduces the need for a candidate to be reassessed before being re-deployed to another mission within this timeframe, and increases the ability of UN police to retain skilled experts and utilize them in successive missions.

How was the language test developed?

• The language tests and scoring matrix have been developed by the Police Division with the support of language experts. This makes the testing more consistent and reduces the risks for unfair competition.

What are you asking for in the interview?

• An interview captures not only oral communication skills, but also professional skills, knowledge of the UN core values and other integrity issues (including gender sensitivity). This allows for direct face-to-face interviews with the candidates instead of phone interviews at a later stage in the process. It increases the accuracy and reduces the time required for selection.

I have heard that driving was very easy before. Why are driving tests important?

• The driving test has been strengthened and harmonized with the UN Surface Manual used for assessments in the field to increase their quality.

In my country I do not usually wear a weapon. Why is a weapons proficiency so important for service with United Nations Police?

• The weapons-handling and shooting test requiring higher accuracy is designed to lead to increased safety in the field.

If I do not know how to use a computer, will I be disqualified?

• The assessment also includes a computer test. During the interview the candidate will be asked to do a practical basic test on a computer. Failure to perform this test will not disqualify for service, however, candidates that pass the test will be prioritized.

Can I take the assessment multiple times while a UN SAAT is ongoing?

• There should be no retesting during a SAAT or in the field except two re-tests within one month in the mission for driving.

Why are Member States encouraged to nominate 20 percent female candidates?

• An encouragement to Member States is to nominate a minimum of twenty (20) per cent female candidates for each SAAT visit. Female police officers enhance the operational effectiveness of UN police and help to rebuild the trust that is essential for re-establishing the rule of law. Female officers play a critical role in all of the various tasks of Individual Police Officers. In some societies, only female police officers are allowed to interact with female members of the community. Additionally, in post-conflict environments where sexual and gender-based violence may have been rampant or used as a method to pursue the aims of the conflict, community members may be more likely to approach female police officers.

I am a candidate. How can I speed up the process?

Expect an  average of [insert time] months for the deployment as IPO, [inser time] months for FPUs and [insert time] for professional posts. Be informed about  your responsibilities and fill out the forms duly and accurately. Requesting forms again will lead to unnecessary delays, due to the number of actors involved at member state and United Nations level.

I am an Individual Police Officer. How high is the MSA?

The Mission Subsistence Allowance is paid in lieu of other entitlements applicable under staff rule 103.22. It is set by the Secretary-General for each mission and varies from [insert range and mission] per day.

The purpose of MSA is to reimburse staff for subsistence costs during periods of mission service. In recent years, MSA has been paid to a wide variety of staff, including international civilian personnel, military observers and civilian police personnel, serving in special missions. MSA payments constitute a significant portion of overall peacekeeping costs. For more information, visit the Office of Human Resources Management.

I want to apply as a graduate? Where can I apply?

You can apply to United Nations careers, https://careers.un.org/lbw/Home.aspx

I do not have an email. Can I still apply?

It is required for some of the processes to have an active email account and monitor it throughout the recruitment process.

How does the medical clearance work?

If you were selected as candidate you have to provide a medical certificate. You will be approached directly by the medical unit to ensure the data is private and any medical condition is treated confidential.

Why can I not apply directly to the United Nations? I am a national police officer?

Police as military personnel are permanently employed by Member States and cannot be recruited on the labour market. Therefore, all officers are seconded or loaned by Member States to the United Nations. Member states invest in the training…

Will I receive a promotion after returning from the United Nations to my national police service?

Each police service maintains its national career advancement system and service with the United Nations may or may not be counted as professional service in your country. From experience, officers that served as UNPOL have been employed at the highest level of national police services and are often valued for their experience, skills and insights.

In my country everybody is a graduate of the same police academy. Can I use the abbreviated name?

As the United Nations has 193 Member States, you should expect that the officer handling your application is not familiar with your country or your national police service. Please spell out the police academy and the year you graduated. It is used to calculate your years of service and thus important that it is not confused with another degree you may have obtained afterwards.

Can I use the form for Individual Police Officers to apply for Professional positions?

Unfortunately, each application can only be considered if the correct form is used.

I do not have access to a computer. Can I send a hand-written form? My hand writing is very good.

Due to the experience of mistakes in reading hand-written notes, only typed applications can be considered. Similarly, the font size should not be changed from the digital copy that is submitted to Permanent Missions.

Is it important that the dates are consistent across all submitted forms?

Yes, it is crucial that you do not leave any gaps in deployment and that all dates are consistent.

I do not speak the required language, but am a quick learner. Can I be considered for the job opening?

Candidates need to fulfil all requirements of the job opening to be considered: academic qualifications, experience and language.

Why is it important to mention the graduation date from the police academy?

The graduation date is used to calculate the years of service, a key requirement for job openings. Please ensure the information is available on all required forms.

Member states

My country has never contributed, do we still receive vacancy announcements?

[provide text]

I would like to deploy police to my neighbour but we are in conflict. Can I deploy police?

[provide text]

I am the Military Adviser and do not have the time to screen candidates. I can assume the Police Division will contact me if there are any problems?

Due to the high number of applications, candidates will not be considered if documents are missing or if information is incomplete or inconsistent. Candidates that do not have the required rank, experience or did not submit all documents should be contacted by the Permanent Mission prior to submitting the files. In addition, helping to advise capital on which candidates are suited for which job openings is crucial for successful applications.

My candidate is the IGP of police. Do I need to advise the candidate to write out the abbreviation?

Due to the 193 Member States of the United Nations, every abbreviation has to be written out. Many abbreviations mean different things in Member States and in different languages and it is therefore important to avoid misunderstandings.

Why is the detailed description important?

The desk officer assessing each application is required to see from the detailed description that the candidates’ experiences match with the requirements of the job opening. Even for officers that served with the United Nations and may have the relevant experience, the information needs to be spelled out clearly and explicitly.