Living conditions vary from stable environments to very changing and dynamic ones.  Be aware that many UN Volunteers work in remote, isolated duty stations where basic comforts may be limited. Many other UN Volunteers work under routine conditions, such as capital cities, with all modern conveniences available. Our assignments are categorized as “family” or “non-family” duty stations, depending on the nature of the assignment and the security context.

Danger and Hardship Differential (DHD)

National and International UN Volunteers serving in locations where dangerous conditions prevail and/or where living and working conditions in the duty station are particularly difficult are provided a Danger and Hardship Differential (DHD). Eligibility for DHD depends on the duty station listed in the Description of Assignment. UNV regularly updates which duty stations qualify for DHD and their corresponding levels, based on ICSC classifications. The DHD is set by UNV according to specific criteria at two hardship levels, A and B, with rates calculated as a percentage of VLA according to UNV methodology.