UN Jobs in Africa by Country (Most Hiring Happens in Just 5)

While many applicants apply at random across the continent.

Smart applicants study UN jobs in Africa by country and target high-volume duty stations.

In this guide, we answer which African country hires most UN staff, UN jobs in Kenya vs Nigeria, where UN regional offices in Africa are and locations of UN headquarters Africa.

See UN Jobs in Africa by Country

Let’s break it down by hiring volume and opportunity concentration.

Tier 1: Kenya (Nairobi)

If you’re asking which African country hires most UN staff, Kenya is the answer.

Why? Nairobi hosts major UN global offices, including:

• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP Headquarters)
• UN-Habitat (Global HQ)
• United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)

Nairobi is one of the four official UN headquarters cities globally.

Why Kenya Ranks #1

• Multiple headquarters-level agencies.
• Regional offices for Africa.
• High number of P-level positions.
• Frequent consultancy contracts.
• Strong internship pipeline.

If you’re comparing UN jobs in Kenya vs Nigeria, Kenya offers more international-level positions.

Tier 2: Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

Addis Ababa is another powerhouse.

It hosts:

• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
• African Union headquarters (not UN, but quite the ecosystem)

Why Ethiopia ranks high:

• Policy-heavy roles.
• Economic & governance positions.
• Regional political affairs roles.
• Conference & diplomatic functions.

Strong for:

• Economists
• Political affairs officers
• Governance specialists

Tier 3: Senegal (Dakar)

Dakar hosts several regional offices for West and Central Africa.

Strong for:

• Regional coordination roles
• Programme management
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• Communications

Lower competition compared to Nairobi.

Good target for French-speaking professionals.

Tier 4: South Africa

South Africa hosts:

• Regional offices
• Specialized agencies
• Technical advisory positions

Common job types:

• Public health
• Human rights
• Economic analysis
• Finance & audit

Highly competitive, but good volume.

Tier 5: Nigeria

Nigeria does not host UN headquarters.

But it has one of the largest UN country office footprints in Africa.

Agencies present include:

• UNICEF
• UNDP
• UNHCR
• World Food Programme

Nigeria also has:

• High humanitarian recruitment.
• Field-based roles.
• G-level & NO-level positions.
• Security & emergency operations.

If you’re targeting entry-level UN jobs in Africa, Nigeria offers strong national-level pathways.

Comparison of UN Jobs in Kenya vs Nigeria

Factor	Kenya	Nigeria
Headquarters Presence	Yes	No
P-Level Jobs	High	Moderate
G-Level Jobs	Moderate	High
Humanitarian Roles	Moderate	High
Competition Level	Very High	High
International Visibility	Very High	Moderate

If your goal is international mobility, target Kenya. But if it is national entry pathway, then Nigeria.

Other Notable UN Hiring Countries in Africa

1. Ghana

• Stable duty station.
• Regional service centre roles.

2. Egypt

• Strong for migration and regional coordination.
• Hosts major international conferences.

3. Tanzania

• Hosts international tribunal offices.
• Good for legal professionals.

Strategic Locations of UN Regional Offices Africa

Major regional hubs:

• Nairobi (East & Southern Africa)
• Dakar (West & Central Africa)
• Addis Ababa (Continental policy)
• Pretoria (Southern Africa regional functions)

These hubs often recruit for multi-country oversight roles.

How to Choose the Best Country for You

Instead of asking: “Which country hires most?”

Ask:

1. Do I qualify for international roles?
2. Am I eligible for national officer roles?
3. What languages do I speak?
4. Am I targeting humanitarian or policy work?

Senegal, DRC is best for French speakers.
Ethiopia for Policy experts.
Kenya for Environmental specialists.
Nigeria is best for Humanitarian field roles.

Strategy beats volume.

Where are UN Headquarters in Africa?

There is only one UN headquarters in Africa. Which is in Nairobi, Kenya.

It is home to:

• UNEP
• UN-Habitat
• UNON

This makes Kenya unique.

Quick Ranking Summary (By Hiring Volume)

1. Kenya
2. Ethiopia
3. Senegal
4. South Africa
5. Nigeria

But volume is not equal to ease.

High volume also means high competition.

Conclusion

If you’re serious about targeting UN jobs in Africa by country, don’t apply at random.

Study the headquarters locations, regional hubs, national eligibility rules and job level structure.

Geographic targeting alone can double your chances.