21 June 2006

Geneva, Switzerland: In his statement to the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme’s session at the UNDP Executive Board on Tuesday, the UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis underlined the unique role of UNV within the United Nations in promoting volunteerism and mobilizing volunteers in support of development.

“Encouraging voluntary action for development goes to the heart of the long-term process of building capacity in people and institutions,” said Mr Dervis. “…[I]t’s clear that UNV plays a distinctive role within the UN system in this respect.”

Continuing his opening address, Mr Dervis said UNV could further catalyse development actions of UNDP and the UN system at large. “UNV gives UNDP, and the wider UN system, the potential to enlarge our capacity to be catalysts for development, especially at the grassroots where the impact of our work will ultimately be assessed.

“From that perspective, I believe that in UNV we have a good best-practice model which I hope we all would want to further capitalize on,” he said.

The UNDP Executive Board, to which UNV reports every two years, is made up of representatives from 36 countries around the world. A Bureau consisting of officials from five regional groups lead the Executive Board and oversee the reporting of UNDP and its administered programmes. This year’s Bureau representatives are Ukraine, Japan, Gambia, Indonesia and Guyana.

Before giving the session to UNV Executive Coordinator Ad de Raad, the Administrator spoke on UNV’s efforts in mobilizing ordinary citizens in voluntary action and fostering volunteer networks to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

"…[V]olunteers, volunteer involving organizations, as well as volunteer networks are important resources that need to be properly recognized as legitimate development partners,” he said. “For UNDP, harnessing the energies and creativity of millions of people worldwide who want to make a distinctive contribution through volunteerism to development and peace will be critical in the years ahead as we approach the 2015 deadline for achieving the MDGs."

Presenting the UNV biennial report to the Executive Board, Mr de Raad, in his speech, spoke on the programme’s continued growth since the last Executive Board meeting in 2004.

"Demand driven as UNV is, its size is certainly an indicator of programme health and relevance," said Mr de Raad.

"I am therefore pleased to report that there has been further significant growth in activities. Compared to two years ago, the number of assignments has grown by some 45 per cent to close to 8,500 in 2005. The total financial equivalent of activities has now reached some US $170 million per year."

He elaborated on UNV’s support to more than 25 different UN departments, agencies, funds and programmes, including in the context of 13 UN peacekeeping missions.

A key element of his statement to the Executive Board was the introduction of UNV’s new Business Model and Results Framework to lead to a greater understanding of the activities and impact of UNV.

"At the heart of the UNV specificity are what we call, three areas of distinctive contribution," said Mr de Raad.

"The first distinctive contribution focuses on enabling disadvantaged groups and communities to gain wider access to opportunities and services and to enhance the delivery of these services. The second focuses on inclusion and participation and involves promoting the involvement of all stakeholders, in particular the disadvantaged, in processes that affect their well-being. The third distinctive contribution focuses on community mobilization through voluntary action."

Mr de Raad also shared with the Executive Board efforts by UNV to promote and strengthen volunteer infrastructure, including the recognition of the role and contribution of volunteerism to development and the establishment of legal frameworks, national volunteer schemes and volunteer centres. He stressed the importance of international support in this area, as volunteerism, he said, can be a highly effective channel to assist governments in meeting the MDG targets.

The UNV Executive Coordinator concluded his address to the Executive Board by expressing gratitude to the supporters of UNV as well as reiterating UNV’s commitment to furthering the notion of volunteerism for development.

"We will continue to support efforts of our partners in the UN system, as well as civil society and private sector to identify, recognize, and strengthen the contribution volunteerism makes in delivering their respective mandates and missions," said Mr de Raad.