Several entry points exist for joining the European Commission's department for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, depending on your profile, type of employment, and location.
Brussels headquarters
Regular staff at our Brussels headquarters are not recruited directly by ECHO. They are rather selected through the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) with all other candidates for the EU institutions.
Besides permanent positions, EPSO also hires contract and temporary agents, as well as interim staff on a temporary basis for specialised tasks. Detailed information on recruitment conditions, eligibility, and open competitions are available on the EPSO website.
In addition, the Commission recruits university graduates for 5-months long paid traineeships with possible deployment at the department's headquarters. Further information on eligibility, conditions, and application process are available at the Commission's Traineeship Office.
Vacant posts
Field offices
For specific tasks related to the execution of humanitarian aid projects, the Commission recruits humanitarian experts for a minimum duration of 12 months outside of the EU.
Candidates with humanitarian background are encouraged to regularly visit our list of vacant positions for humanitarian experts and to register their information on the Commision's reserve list of humanitarian experts.
Vacant posts
Volunteering in humanitarian aid
Are you looking for volunteering opportunities in humanitarian aid?
As from 2022, the European Solidarity Corps opens up to the world and offers new cross-border volunteering activities in support of humanitarian aid operations in third countries.
You can choose between volunteering as an individual or volunteering in teams. To join the European Solidarity Corps for humanitarian aid volunteering, you need to be between 18 and 35 years old and legally reside in an EU country or a third country associated with the programme (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Türkiye, and North Macedonia).
Please note that the EU Aid Volunteers programme is no longer active.