Application Guide
How to Apply for Countering the Financing of Terrorism Expert (Remote)
at UN Volunteers
🏢 About UN Volunteers
UNOCT is the only UN entity mandated to coordinate global counter-terrorism efforts across 43 Compact entities, giving you unmatched exposure to high-level multilateral policy and operations. Working here means directly strengthening Member States' capacity to disrupt terrorist financing through legally grounded, human-rights-compliant programmes. The remote, full-time UN Volunteer modality offers a rare chance to contribute to international peace and security from anywhere while building a UN career.
About This Role
As a CFT Expert, you will provide specialized technical assistance to Member States on detecting, preventing, and countering terrorist financing, aligning with UN resolutions and international standards (FATF, etc.). You will support legal, regulatory, institutional, and operational frameworks, likely through research, policy drafting, capacity-building design, and coordination with Compact entities. Your work directly enables countries to cut off terrorist funding streams, making this a high-impact role at the intersection of law, finance, and security.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve drafting legal analysis on a Member State's CFT legislation, participating in a virtual coordination call with Compact partners, and preparing training materials for an upcoming capacity-building workshop. You'll balance independent research with collaborative problem-solving, all while navigating the UN's bureaucratic processes to deliver timely, high-quality support to countries in need.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who UN Volunteers Is Looking For
- Advanced degree in law, finance, international relations, or related field, with 5+ years of experience in counter-terrorism financing, AML/CFT, or financial regulation.
- Deep knowledge of FATF Recommendations, UN Security Council resolutions (e.g., 1373, 2462), and international legal frameworks on terrorist financing.
- Proven experience providing technical assistance or capacity-building to governments or international organizations, ideally in a multilateral context.
- Strong analytical and drafting skills in English (French or Arabic desirable), with the ability to translate complex policy into actionable guidance for diverse stakeholders.
📝 Tips for Applying to UN Volunteers
Tailor your CV to highlight specific CFT/AML projects you've worked on, including the legal instruments or FATF standards you applied and the countries or institutions you supported.
Explicitly reference UNOCT's Global CFT Programme and its objectives in your cover letter to show you understand the programme's scope and how your skills align.
Demonstrate familiarity with the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy's four pillars and how CFT fits into them, as UNOCT's mandate is rooted in this framework.
If you have experience with UN Volunteers or other UN agencies, emphasize it—UNV values prior UN system experience and understanding of volunteer modalities.
Use keywords from the job description (e.g., 'technical assistance', 'policy support', 'capacity-building') in your application to pass initial screening and show alignment.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
In your cover letter, emphasize: (1) your hands-on experience in designing or delivering CFT technical assistance to Member States; (2) your knowledge of UN counter-terrorism architecture and the Compact; (3) your ability to work remotely and collaborate across time zones with multidisciplinary teams; and (4) your commitment to human rights and the rule of law in counter-terrorism efforts, which is central to UNOCT's approach.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read UNOCT's Global CFT Programme documents and recent reports to understand its strategic priorities and country-level projects.
- → Familiarize yourself with the 43 Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities and their roles, especially those working on CFT (e.g., UNODC, FATF, IMF).
- → Review key UN Security Council resolutions on terrorist financing (1373, 1267, 2462) and the FATF Recommendations to speak fluently about the normative framework.
- → Explore UN Volunteers' conditions of service and the specific expectations for remote volunteers, including the volunteer living allowance and assignment duration.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application that doesn't mention CFT, UNOCT, or the Global Programme—this shows lack of research and fit.
- Overlooking the UN Volunteer modality: failing to acknowledge the volunteer nature of the role or the living allowance may signal misalignment with UNV's ethos.
- Ignoring the human rights dimension: CFT work at the UN must be rights-compliant; neglecting this in your application could raise concerns about your approach.
📅 Application Timeline
⏰ Deadline: October 17, 2026
We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!