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UN Professional Placements (UNPP) Programme About the Programme The United Nations Professional Placements (UNPP) Programme provides an avenue through which individual Canadians can participate in the UN and in its work to maintain international peace and security by lending its support to programmes which promote and respect both human rights and sustainable development. In so doing, UNPP participants are given the opportunity of working, living and interacting with peoples from around the world; in sharing ideas and views; and in acquiring cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity. Moreover, Canada maintains its global reputation through the efforts and hard work of these Canadian professionals who bring their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to countries around the world.
UNA-Canada's mission is to engage the Canadian public in the work of the United Nations and global issues more generally. The UNPP Programme supports our mandate by enabling UNA-Canada to send representatives abroad who not only support UN activities, but also help foster an understanding of Canada's pivotal role in the UN. The experience of participants is passed on to family, friends, and colleagues abroad and at home, which helps to generate and maintain support for, and awareness of, issues relating to peace, human rights, equitable and sustainable development and the elimination of poverty. Upon completion of their placement - whether they return to Canada or find new opportunities &/or work abroad - many of our participants become highly involved in educating their fellow citizens about the UN and the issues with which it deals, whether through volunteer work or through their careers. Canada's very active role in, and generous contribution to, UN programmes and agencies has afforded us significant influence in countries around the world. This influence can be used to advance a myriad of social and political agendas of interest to Canada. Although the UNPP programme is but one element of Canada's contribution to the activities of the UN, it does offer an opportunity for Canadians to make contacts abroad, to provide needed assistance in other communities, to gain meaningful work experience, to create friendships, and to play a role in strengthening Canada's influence abroad. The UNPP programme can also be looked upon as an investment in Canada's foreign policy of the future. The participants of today are well-primed to occupy positions of importance in Canadian government, civil society and industry a few years down the road. The counterparts that they met and worked with during their placements may well do likewise in their own countries. Liaisons such as these often produce tremendous goodwill which is out of all proportion to the cost of their creation.
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