27 May 2010

Geneva, Switzerland: The UNDP Administrator’s report on  the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme provides an overview of results achieved during the 2008-2009 biennium in the three areas of the UNV business model - advocacy, integration and mobilization - in support of programme countries and United Nations organizations in their efforts towards peace and development, including achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

The report illustrates achievements of the organizational results: (a) global recognition of volunteerism for peace and development; (b) integration of volunteerism into peace and development programmes; and (c) mobilization of increasing numbers and diversity of volunteers contributing to peace and development. Furthermore, strategic guidance, organizational oversight and accountability of UNV are captured in a chapter on management results.

In partnership with UNDP, UNV integrated volunteerism in development programming through UNDAF and joint programming, thereby supporting capacity building - through volunteerism – in particular at the local level where poverty reduction and delivery of basic services are most needed.

UNV volunteers made important contributions to peacekeeping efforts and humanitarian work of the United Nations. UNV continued efforts to mainstream gender in programming, started to expand volunteerism contributions to environmental and climate change challenges, and further developed other volunteers modalities such as online volunteering.

National and international UNV volunteers and technical assistance to build national volunteer capacity show that the volunteer sector is a true resource for peace, development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers - IYV+10 - in 2011 represents a major opportunity for UNV and the United Nations system to advocate for the important contributions of volunteers to peace and development.