In this vast and multifaceted country of 1.1 billion, the development challenges are immense. UNV volunteers are at the heart of UNDP’s efforts to tackle poverty here, and all of them are Indian nationals. Visit site

Volunteerism empowers people to take charge of their destinies and to help their countries move forward. Here we encounter stories from Liberia and Sierra Leone each illustrating the relationships between volunteerism, peace and development. Visit site

UNV Deputy Executive Coordinator Naheed Haque made her first official visit to the field since taking office in July 2009. She met with Government and UN counterparts and visited UNV volunteers working with communities in Zambia and Malawi. Visit site

'Volunteering for our Planet' recognized and promoted voluntary effort for the environment. Volunteers around the world registered more than 1.5 million hours of environmental activities during our campaign, covering the six months from World Environment Day on 5 June to International Volunteer Day, 5 December 2009. Visit site

Kabul, Afghanistan: After decades of war, Afghanistan geared up for presidential elections on 20 August 2009. This was the second democratic cycle the country has seen – and just as in 2004, UNV volunteers were heavily involved with the electoral process. Visit site

Bonn, Germany: Bonn, Germany: International Women's Day is marked every year on 8 March, and in 2009 the theme is 'Women and Men: United to End Violence against Women'. UNV works with partners around the world to help end violence against women, supporting the empowerment of women and their communities and thus contributing to their escape from fear and coercion. Read about how UNV is working on these issues, and about the UNV volunteers setting an example for women everywhere. Visit site

Bonn, Germany: It is 60 years since the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the theme for Human Rights Day, 10 December 2008, 'Dignity and justice for all of us', reinforces the vision of the Declaration as a commitment to the entire human race. Across the world, UNV volunteers are working towards this vision: monitoring and reporting on abuses, sensitizing institutions and communities, and helping to protect individual people. Visit site

Bonn, Germany: 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. Visit site

Bonn, Germany: The International Day of Peace, celebrated on 21 September, has a special significance in 2008. It marks both the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 60th anniversary of UN peacekeeping, which is why this year's Peace Day is themed 'Human Rights and Peacekeeping'. Visit site

Bonn, Germany: International Youth Day signals the UN's commitment to youth as a significant asset for development. Volunteerism is an important channel for realizing the potential of youth, and UNV is at work worldwide to harness youth volunteerism. With UNV's help, youth are being nurtured for the future and giving back to their communities in the present. Visit site