Kiev, Ukraine: On 31 May 2011, at a press conference in Kiev, UNV, UNDP and the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sport of the Government of Ukraine jointly launched 'Active Youth Tested Recipes', a handbook of best practices for youth and organizations working with youth, and a national Youth Portal to support networking among Ukraine’s youth organizations. Read

Bonn, Germany: Forest conservation and natural resource management become more sustainable when there is ownership at the community level. Read

Ndjamena, Chad: Since assisting in Chad's presidential elections in April 2011, 21 UNV Electoral Agents have been supporting local branches of Chad’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) in organizing the country’s first municipal elections which will be held later this year. Read

In marking World Migratory Bird Day 2011, 14-15 May, Flavia Pansieri, UNV Executive Coordinator, notes the critical role volunteers play participating and engaging others in the environmental movement. Read

Abeche, Chad: On 30 April 2011, MINURCAT’s Liquidation Phase, begun in January 2011, will end, and its team of national and international staff, which includes 50 UN Volunteers, will be disbanded. Read

Bihać and Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Last month UNV Field Unit Bosnia and Herzegovina was excited to participate in the official opening of the Youth Employment & Information Centres – or CISOs – in Bihać and Prijedor, located in the northwest of the country. The opening of the first of 15 CISO centres marks an exciting new chapter in supporting young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina to overcome high rates of unemployment and secure the first step to better futures. Read

Kinshasa, DRC: It was a somber day in Kinshasa last Sunday as UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri joined the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and Senior Management for the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) in a special tribute to the three UN Volunteers who lost their lives in the crash of UN Flight 834 last Monday 4 April. Read

Kinshasa, DRC: The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is deeply saddened by the deaths of three UN Volunteers who were among those killed in the plane crash at Kinshasa airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday 4 April. Read

Dushanbe, Tajikistan: New study by United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme argues that volunteering offers significant potential for development of the country.  Mr. Ghulam M. Isaczai, Chief of UNV’s Development Division, and Ms. Mavsuma Muinova, Deputy Head of the State Committee on Youth, Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Tajikistan jointly launched the report at a ceremony held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Read

Quito, Ecuador: "Volunteering is an essential tool of governance by the people and for the people, a tool for citizens’ participation": Ricardo Carrillo, Under-Secretary of People, Social Movements and Citizen Participation in Ecuador.

Volunteering organizations are currently gathering in Quito for the first in a series of get-togethers aimed at paving the way for a World Volunteer Coalition. Read