Niamey, Niger: The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has launched an initiative to assist Niger in recruiting members for its new national volunteerism scheme. The Government of Niger recently adopted a decree, establishing a national scheme for volunteerism for development (V4D). Read

Ha Noi, Viet Nam: The Viet Nam Women's Union, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), are organising a national workshop entitled “ Promotion of the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA) and Reduction of Stigma and Discrimination ” from 27 to 29 August 2007 in Ha Noi. Read

Antananarivo, Madagascar: For seven consecutive years, Kraft Foods has been partnering with the UN Volunteers (UNV) Corporate/Private Sector programme for two-week corporate volunteer assignments. One of the missions this year requested support for a small jam-making factory called IRAY (IRAY), located in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Read

Rukha, Bhutan: Chanting resounds across Rukha village, raising the spirits of Olep community members working tirelessly on their housing construction.  The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Volunteers programme (UNV) are supporting the Integrated Community Development for Poverty Reduction project which is executed locally by the Tarayana Foundation, a non-profit organization. Read

Beijing, China: UNV, UNDP and Chinese partners today launched an Olympics-based project to support volunteerism as a resource for development in China. The project will train 100,000 volunteers to support the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and promote environmental awareness, and also help develop a large-scale Volunteerism For Development (V4D) programme across China. Read

Dili, Timor-Leste: The President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, Dr. José Ramos-Horta, has congratulated the more than 250 UNV volunteers from 70 countries working with the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), who assisted throughout the electoral process in April, May and June of this year. Read

Dili, Timor-Leste: The UNV programme in Timor-Leste recently launched a National UNV volunteer scheme to promote citizens' participation in the governance process. Thirteen Timorese volunteers were initially recruited to work as civic education officers. Read

Geneva, Switzerland: Volunteerism is an important contributor to economic development and needs closer measurement, says the Director of the Statistics Bureau of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mr. Sylvester Young. Read

Monrovia, Liberia: The Government of Liberia and the United Nations Development Programme have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a partnership for the official launch of the National Youth Volunteers Services (NYVS) programme in Liberia. The Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs, Dr. Toga McIntosh signed for the Liberian Government while UNDP Country Director Steven Ursino signed on behalf of UNDP. Read

Bonn, Germany: The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) is mobilizing volunteers to support the Live Earth concert in Shanghai, China on 7 July, which aims to empower individuals to take decisive action to combat climate change. Read