Yokahama, Japan: UNV is showcasing the importance of volunteerism in Africa at the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) conference. UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri and UNV Chief of the Africa Region Michele Falavigna are attending in order to contribute to the conference and its output documents (such as the Yokahama Declaration and Plan of Action), and to discuss UNV's activities with the Japanese and African media. The conference runs from 28-30 May in Yokohama, Japan. Read

Bonn, Germany: Volunteerism is critical in responding to environmental and sustainable development challenges such as the preservation of biological diversity. Maintaining the diversity of nature is going to require the dedication of us all. "That means recognizing people who are already acting," said UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity. Read

Damascus, Syria: Volunteers have planted a forest near Damascus to increase biodiversity in their area. Staff from UNV, other UN agencies and many local volunteers were involved in the planting of 3,500 cedar, cypress, stone pine and wild pear trees in a nine-hectare plot. Read

Sichuan Province, China: UNV volunteers are working in Sichuan province in China to support medical relief for people displaced by the recent earthquake. One of them is writing an online diary of his experiences (last updated 1 June), and was joined in May by two others. Read

Peshawar, Pakistan: With the help of a UNV volunteer, Afghan refugees in Pakistan are developing sustainable self-governance methods - turning their camp into a community they run and pay for themselves. Read

Kathmandu, Nepal: The contributions of UNV volunteers to elections in Nepal were formally recognized this week in a ceremony held in Kathmandu. Deputy Executive Coordinator Joyce Yu visited to meet the UNV volunteers involved, listen to their experiences and acknowledge their achievements. Read

Ougadougou, Burkina Faso: Keeping food prices stable is a major challenge during the current global food crisis, but a UNV volunteer in Burkina Faso is using his logistics expertise to make sure stocks are in the right places at the right times. Read

Bonn, Germany: With a million people in need of urgent aid, thousands of local volunteers are expected to play a vital role in relief efforts in Myanmar.  Among those already active are 20 volunteers of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme currently in the country.  They are providing expertise and organizing local volunteers to help with relief and early recovery efforts. Read

Maputo, Mozambique: UNV volunteers are helping ensure stable food supplies in Mozambique in the face of a global food crisis. Working with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), volunteers such as Annette Jaitner, a Food and Nutrition Security Officer, are teaching and facilitating at projects such as Farmer Field Schools (FFSs) and implementing other educational programmes. Read

Ljubljana, Slovenia: The economic value of volunteerism can – and should – be measured, but volunteerism is not easily quantified, according to speakers at a recent European volunteerism conference in Slovenia. Read