In June 1997, The National UNV scheme was initiated in China. This programme utilizes the skills of qualified Chinese nationals to provide assistance in different sectors of development in and around China. Current UNV programme areas are in poverty alleviation, environmental conservation, gender empowerment and legal aid for the poor. Over the past three years, more than 50 Chinese specialists have been serving as national UN Volunteers in various geographical regions around the country.

The UNV programme in China works closely with and through our Chinese counterpart, Beijing International Volunteers Association (BIVA). BIVA was established in 2000 with the support of the China International Centre for Technical and Economic Exchanges (CICETE) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in order to strengthen cooperation and exchanges between the UN, developing countries, civil society organizations and academic institutions. It focuses on promoting volunteerism both at home and abroad through the UNV programme.

Advocating Volunteerism
The United Nations General Assembly designated 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers. Since then, UNV in China has made significant strides in promoting voluntary action around the country, cooperating with both national and international agencies. Some achievements include: the 2001 International Conference on Voluntary Service, jointly organized by volunteer and government organizations and the 2002 International Volunteer Day forum on "Voluntary Service and Employment". Most significantly, China was a co-sponsor of the Resolution on Volunteerism as drafted by the UN General Assembly for the past two years. The impact of volunteerism to social welfare and global development is invaluable, and this remains a continuing objective in the years to come.

Future Strategies
UNV continues to expand both its focus and activities in China and abroad, recruiting international UN Volunteers to China and dispatching Chinese UN Volunteers to developing countries. Currently, UN Volunteers work with various UN agencies, including UNDP, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and the International Labour Organization (ILO). In addition to contributing to global development challenges within the UN system, UNV is also cross-cutting sectors through strengthening cooperation with civil society organizations, governments, private sectors and academic institutions.

UNV in China will continue working towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals through the contribution of volunteers in the different development sectors. In addition, we hope to expand the geographical diversity of the programme, concentrating more in the Central and Western provinces of China. With the strong support of the UNDP and the Chinese government, UNV remains committed and dedicated to bringing volunteerism to the forefront of human progress.

Based in Bonn, Germany, UNV is the volunteer arm of the UN system supporting peace and development initiatives in nearly 150 countries. Created by the UN General Assembly in 1970 and administered by UNDP, UNV works through UNDP country offices to mobilize volunteers--two-thirds of them from developing countries--and promote the ideals of volunteerism around the world.