27 January 2010

Bonn, Germany: "Developing countries look for support at a higher level than in the past," said the UN's development chief this week, "and that leaves areas of community engagement where UNV could step up."

The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Helen Clark, explained how UNDP was increasingly focused on helping countries build strategic systems, capacities and policies for "transformational change". With this in mind, the roles of UNV and civic engagement bringing change at the grassroots would assume even greater importance.

"What's special about UNV is the volunteer ethos," commented Ms. Clark, who was appointed to head UNDP in 2009. "Their only purpose is to do good... and that is inspirational."

Miss Clark was in Germany for discussions with the recently-elected Government in Berlin, and stopped in Bonn to talk to UNV management and staff. Also in attendance were Belgian, Czech, Irish, Italian and Swiss UNV volunteer Interns in training for their assignments.

"I'm looking at a room of people committed to supporting the UNV volunteers in the field, and the volunteers making a difference," the Administrator told them.

She also referred to her visit to Liberia in 2009, during which she met national volunteers boosting development and peacebuilding in rural areas, as an example of the power of volunteerism.

"Some of our greatest excitement has come from indigenous volunteers in-country, stimulated by UNV and international volunteers," she expanded. "On my first field visit as UNDP Administrator, in Liberia I was struck by the enthusiasm of those volunteers, and I thought that was incredibly positive."

In her address to UNV staff, Miss Clark paid tribute to UNV volunteers killed in Afghanistan and in Haiti in the last months, and to a UNV volunteer recently released from captivity in Darfur. "Everyone's thoughts are with their families," she said.

Having very recently visited Haiti to consider UNDP's response to the earthquake, the UNDP Administrator reflected further on the disaster. "In human terms this has been a terrible catastrophe," she said, "and it's hard to think of a parallel."

"However," she continued, "during my visit with the Secretary-General, we could see it was 'on the turn' and relief was kicking in. We have to keep the momentum up with the international commitment to Haiti, and the role of the Haitian Government will be critical in reconstruction."

Miss Clark discussed ideas for harnessing the "tremendous" potential of voluntary action in recovery efforts. Though at present it was important to involve Haitians in cash-for-work projects to get recovery moving, there was certainly room for volunteers in the future. "I think people with a big heart are going to be needed there for a long time to come," she remarked.

She talked about the numerous other challenges of the early 21st century, from natural disasters and climate change to economic recession, and how reversing their cumulative effects would require renewed commitment from the developed world and the United Nations system. "Nothing matters to me more than poverty reduction," she stated.

"Volunteerism needs to be built into United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks," she commented later, "which UN country teams negotiate with host governments... I think it will be good for the UNDAFs themselves, and will also help UNV plan strategically about how it will work in-country."

Finally, the UNDP Administrator joined the UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri in calling for firm commitment to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers.

"I remember the International Year of Volunteers in 2001 very well – without volunteers New Zealand stops!" she reminisced. "The Year gave volunteerism a tremendous boost, and 2011 is a chance to look back and set volunteerism goals for the next decade."

To view the video interview with Helen Clark, click here.