Toliara, Madagascar: But through the efforts of United Nations Volunteer Bengaly Kouyat‚, a fisheries specialist attached to the World Food Programme (WFP), fishermen in the region have coupled their desire for a greater catch with new techniques to respect pro-conservation fishing regulations. Based in Bonn, Germany, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the volunteer arm of the UN system supporting peace, relief and development initiatives in nearly 150 countries. Read

Bonn, Germany: Pierre Galo Coffi, an international UNV specialist in rural development, has tapped the energy of youth football teams to plant trees in a heavily deforested area of Madagascar. The 42-year-old from Benin and his colleagues have invested three years in a regional development plan that seeks to get residents involved in reforestation campaigns. Local authorities have expressed their support and interest. The approach is working. Read