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

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

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

The 10-year Brussels Programme of Action (BPoA), endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2001, recognizes the special needs of the least developed countries (LDCs) and the contribution of volunteers in meeting those needs. The 61st session of the General Assembly opened with a mid-term review of BPoA’s implementation. On this occasion, UNV has published a fact sheet on its support for the development of LDCs in the past five years. 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

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

International Volunteer Day (IVD) is a chance for volunteer-involving organizations and individual volunteers to promote their contributions to development at local, national and international levels. By merging UN support with a grassroots mandate, IVD is a unique opportunity for volunteer-involving organizations to work with government agencies, non-profit organizations, community groups and the private sector. Read

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) can only be achieved with the full involvement of people all over the world. The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism for development (V4D). Its work includes the assignment each year of over 8000 skilled and experienced women and men to support a broad range of development programmes, which contribute to achieving the MDGs in some 140 countries around the world. Read