The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme was created by the General Assembly (GA) in 1970 through GA resolution 26/59. Since then, UNV’s mandate has been expanded by GA resolution 31/131 in 1976, GA resolution 56/38 in 2001 and others in the follow-up to the International Year of Volunteers in 2001.

Back in 1970, UNV’s initial role was to recruit, place and administer the services of qualified volunteers, who provided professional support to UN agencies in various programme countries.

In 1976, GA resolution 31/131 widened the mandate of the Programme to promoting the advancement of the role of youth in development.

In 2001, UNV successfully assumed the role of focal point for the International Year of Volunteers (IYV). IYV brought into sharper focus the potential of volunteerism to deliver far-reaching and wide-ranging economic and social returns.

UNV’s mandate was further expanded by GA resolution 56/38 to include the role of focal point in the United Nations to raise awareness of volunteerism and provide technical cooperation to developing countries in the field of volunteerism to fully exploit its potential as a resource for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). 

In the follow-up to IYV in 2001, a number of UN General Assembly resolutions on volunteering were adopted and references to volunteering appeared in the outcome documents of several thematic UN and other international conferences.

Read more UN resolutions related to volunteering