25 June 2005

Another important aspect of UNV’s work is building on partnerships to create a favourable environment for volunteerism to flourish. As in previous years, UNV forged alliances in 2004 with international bodies, academia and other volunteer involving organizations to further promote and facilitate voluntary action as a catalyst for social and economic development. Highlights include:

IFRC and UNV strengthen partnership. Both parties sign a Letter of Understanding that elaborates specific areas for closer collaboration. Combating HIV/AIDS (MDG 6) is made a top priority, especially in responding to its devastating impact on sub-Saharan Africa. IFRC and UNV commit to combining resources to leverage volunteerism as a way to mobilize affected communities in fighting the epidemic.

Economic value of volunteerism. UNV and the USA-based Johns Hopkins University (JHU) launch a pilot project in nine countries to determine the contributions of volunteerism to a country’s economy. A UN Volunteer statistician placed with each country’s statistical department works with government officials and JHU experts in developing a separate national account to capture the total economic contribution of the country’s non-profit sector, including the work of volunteers, to its gross domestic product.

The Volunteerism and Legislation Guidance Note. Prepared jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and UNV, and launched at the 111th Assembly of the IPU, the Note provides parliamentarians and other interested parties with specific guidance when establishing volunteer-related legislation.

Measuring the impact of volunteer contributions. At the annual meeting of Heads of International Volunteer Cooperating Organizations in November, it is agreed that a working group, coordinated by UNV, will develop a methodology to better capture the impact of volunteerism in development interventions, including on local volunteerism in the programme/project area.

UNITeS expands network. Under the UNV-managed United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS), 11 universities in 7 countries in Latin America create a regional network to send students and faculty as volunteers to support IT-related initiatives. Activities range from working with community-based organizations on website development and maintenance to introducing tech literacy to higher education centres and work cooperatives.
Bolstering southern voices. OneWorld International and UNV combine online resources to launch the OneWorld Volunteer Editors Programme, an initiative aimed at providing professionals living and working in the developing world with the opportunity to bring their special knowledge and perspective to the online community. The UNV-managed Online Volunteering service facilitates the recruitment of online volunteer editors and offers guidance to OneWorld on online volunteer management.