Basque Agency for Development Cooperation - UNESCO Grants

UNESCO Grants (Becas ONU)

You get 18,000 EUR per year to work for one year at a UNESCO field office in Africa, Asia or Latin America. You can extend for a second year. The money covers your travel, your health and assistance insurance, and your accommodation and food. Depending on the cost of living in your destination country, the Basque Agency for Development Cooperation (Agencia Vasca de Cooperación al Desarrollo) can raise the amount by up to 5%. You support cooperation projects in UNESCO's main areas: education, social sciences, natural sciences, culture, and communication and information. The programme is run by UN Etxea, the Basque association for the UN, and funded by the Basque Government.

Who can apply

• Where you live: You have been a registered resident (empadronamiento) in the Basque Autonomous Community for at least one year, counted from 1 January of the year the call opens.
• Age: You are under 35 in the year the call is published.
• Degree: You hold a university degree.
• Experience: You have training or experience in development cooperation.
• Involvement: You are actively involved with a social or humanitarian organisation or programme in the Basque Country.
• Languages: You speak excellent English and/or French.
• First time: You have not received this grant before.
• Field of study: Any background that fits UNESCO's work areas: education, social sciences, natural sciences, culture, and communication and information.

How to apply

When a call opens, it is published in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV) and announced on UN Etxea's website and social media. You then send in your CV within the stated window. If your CV passes the first screening, you have an interview and a language test. Before you leave, you must complete a short course on the UN system and UNESCO run by UN Etxea.

If you are exploring further funding options beyond this UNESCO programme, you will find a broad range of opportunities in our guide Scholarships in Spain.