The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is committed to supporting global efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To meet this aim, the UNV programme has, in recent years, launched several initiatives to provide expanded opportunities for a wider group of citizens to volunteer for development. Read

TOKTEN experts provide short-term advisory services in priority areas identified by the host governments. UNDP and the United Nations Fund for Science and Technology for Development administered the TOKTEN programme until 1994. Since then, the programme has come under the umbrella of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme. Read

For many years, the UN Volunteers programme has actively supported relief efforts in the aftermath of disasters such as Hurricane Mitch in Central America in 1998, the cyclones in India’s Orissa state in 1999, the earthquake in Gujarat, India, in 2001, and the floods in Sri Lanka in 2003. Read

Working with the United Nations agencies system and national electoral authorities, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme supports the democratic process in countries around the world by assisting the organization, supervision and observance of local, regional and national elections. Key partners include the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Electoral Assistance Division of the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). Read

Volunteerism is an important component of effective governance and successful social and economic development. Through the work of UN agencies and governments, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme supports decentralization processes that promote participatory local governance and the empowerment of communities by engaging in a wide range of good governance projects. Read

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is deeply engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS through the use of people-centred approaches. It collaborates closely with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), volunteer involving organizations, networks of people living with HIV/AIDS and national AIDS programmes in affected countries. Read

The trust and confidence that volunteers inspire in others, including through their association with the United Nations, is an important source of strength to the work of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in the area of governance and human rights. Read

UN Volunteers take up a variety of activities in the area of humanitarian assistance. They work as food aid monitors, field officers, civilian camp officers, logisticians, procurement specialists, storekeepers, warehouse managers, material management specialists, emergency administrative assistants, transport coordinators and radio technicians. Over the last five years, UN Volunteers have supported humanitarian activities in war-torn countries such as Afghanistan, Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kosovo, Liberia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tanzania, Timor (East and West), Uganda and the former Yugoslavia. Read

The importance of information and communications technologies (ICT) in the fight against poverty was underscored in the report of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Millennium Summit. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has long identified the potential of ICT as a means to create earnings opportunities, improve access to education and facilitate information and knowledge-sharing. Read

For the past 15 years (1992-2007), UNV and DPKO have engaged in fruitful collaboration. UNV volunteers have taken part in 44 peacekeeping operations, with over 11,300 volunteers completing more than 16,000 mission assignments during this period. In 2007, over 2,995 UNV volunteers supported 18 UN peacekeeping and special political operations in 18 countries. Read