Training in development assistance

UNWTO.Volunteers programme aims at training young professionals in tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation and development, enabling them to carry-out hands-on transfers of applied practical know-how that will empower the beneficiaries willing to undertake initiatives related to the sustainable development of tourism.

Objectives

• To train, theoretically and practically, young professionals with the suitable expertise and skills in the field of tourism as a tool for development.
• To provide postgraduates with practical work experience in a developing country.
• To support UNWTO, UNWTO Member States and international cooperation agencies in the formulation and implementation of plans, programmes and projects through the technical contribution of the UNWTO .Volunteers Corps.
• To provide governments (at all levels) of developing countries with high calibre junior professional tourism specialists where gaps in local expertise exist.
• To disseminate, through education and training, the policies of UNWTO in the field of tourism. In particular, tourism's role as an instrument of development and its potential to contribute to the Millennium Development Goals.

This programme is structured in two areas of work:

• University Course on Tourism and International Cooperation for Development 
  This intensive course trains university graduates and professionals, in subject areas related to development and international cooperation through tourism and gives them the opportunity to become part of the UNWTO.Volunteer Corps, giving them the chance to work in a developing country.
• UNWTO.Volunteers Corps: Volunteers in action!
  The UNWTO.Volunteers Corps provides junior professional tourism specialists to support the initiatives related to the sustainable development of tourism.
  The participation of volunteers in development assistance programmes/projects gives the possibility to significantly expand the scope of often badly needed direct guidance, supporting local stakeholders in implementing sustainable development programmes and projects that have been formulated by international experts.
  Volunteers can also support national, regional and local administrations of the UNWTO Member States, providing governments of developing countries with high calibre junior professional tourism specialists where gaps in local expertise exist.