Deadline: 23-Apr-2026
The European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps funds full-time international volunteering placements for young people supporting humanitarian aid operations in third countries. The programme strengthens disaster preparedness, community resilience, and inclusive development while ensuring safety, training, and adherence to humanitarian principles. Eligible volunteers gain hands-on experience, professional skills, and the opportunity to contribute directly to crisis-affected communities.
Overview
The European Commission supports humanitarian volunteering through the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. This programme enables young people to participate in humanitarian aid operations that improve living conditions for crisis-affected populations. Volunteering assignments focus on resilience building, disaster preparedness, local capacity strengthening, and long-term development links.
Why It Matters
This initiative:
• Supports vulnerable and disaster-affected communities
• Strengthens local and international humanitarian response capacity
• Helps young people gain practical humanitarian field experience
• Promotes sustainable, inclusive development and disaster-risk reduction
• Ensures alignment with humanitarian principles and the “do no harm” approach
Key Focus Areas
Projects funded under this opportunity must contribute to one or more of the following areas:
• Transition from emergency response to long-term development
• Community resilience building and capacity strengthening
• Disaster preparedness and disaster-risk reduction
• Linking relief, rehabilitation, and development (LRRD)
• Ensuring volunteer safety, security, and risk-management
• Complementary activities that increase community impact
• Active involvement of local volunteers and staff in implementation
Programme Structure
• Location: Third countries with active humanitarian aid operations
• Volunteer workload: 30–38 hours per week (full time, non-remunerated)
• Duration: 12, 24, or 36 months (extensions possible if justified)
• Maximum EU grant per project: EUR 650,000
• Principles: Humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence, and “do no harm”
Who Is Eligible?
Volunteers must:
• Be 18–35 years old
• Legally reside in an EU Member State or a programme-associated third country
• Be registered in the European Solidarity Corps Portal
• Have completed all mandatory Commission-organised trainings
• Not have previously taken part in Humanitarian Aid individual volunteering
Projects must:
• Take place in eligible third countries
• Comply with humanitarian aid principles and safety requirements
• Engage local actors and promote community participation
How to Apply: Step-by-Step for Volunteers
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Register on the European Solidarity Corps Portal.
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Indicate interest in Humanitarian Aid Volunteering.
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Complete all mandatory EU training modules.
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Browse available humanitarian aid placements.
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Submit your application for a specific project.
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If selected, complete pre-deployment briefings and administrative steps.
How Organizations Apply
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Develop a project aligned with humanitarian principles and programme focus areas.
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Ensure the design includes safety, risk-management, and community involvement.
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Prepare a budget (up to EUR 650,000 per project).
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Submit the project proposal to the European Commission.
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Once approved, recruit eligible volunteers through the ESC Portal.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Volunteers applying without completing mandatory training
• Organizations proposing activities that violate neutrality or “do no harm”
• Projects lacking clear safety and security measures
• Limited involvement of local actors or insufficient community engagement
• Volunteers misunderstanding the full-time and non-remunerated nature of assignments
• Prior participation in Humanitarian Aid individual volunteering (disqualifies applicants)
FAQ
1. Are volunteers paid?
No. Volunteering is non-remunerated, but logistical and support arrangements are covered by the project.
2. How many hours per week must volunteers commit?
Volunteers work between 30 and 38 hours weekly.
3. Can someone over 35 participate?
No. The age limit is strictly 18–35 years.
4. Can volunteers choose their placement country?
Volunteers apply to specific project postings available in the ESC Portal.
5. What training is required?
All volunteers must complete mandatory training organised by the European Commission before deployment.
6. Are extensions allowed?
Yes. Projects may be extended if justified and formally approved through an amendment.
7. What types of skills do volunteers gain?
Volunteers develop humanitarian field experience, cultural competence, disaster-risk understanding, and project-implementation skills.
Conclusion
The European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps offers young people a structured pathway to contribute meaningfully to global humanitarian efforts. With a focus on resilience, community engagement, and adherence to humanitarian principles, the initiative provides valuable experience for volunteers while supporting critical needs in crisis-affected regions. Well-designed projects and properly trained volunteers help strengthen humanitarian impact and long-term community development.
For more information, visit European Commission.