05 December 2003

New York, USA: The United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme agreed today to expand the role of UN Volunteers in UN peace operations worldwide.

A Memorandum of Understanding on global collaboration between the two UN organizations was signed in New York by Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and Mr. Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on behalf of UNV.

The agreement is based upon an August 2000 Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations (A/55/205 and S/2000/809), which called for greater use of UN Volunteers in peacekeeping operations. Ad de Raad, Executive Coordinator a.i. of the United Nations Volunteers programme added, “the agreement will further enhance this successful working relationship. UN Volunteers will continue to complement the staffing requirements of all peacekeeping, peace-building or electoral components of UN Missions,” he said.

The Memorandum of Understanding also calls for the participation of UN Volunteers in the planning of new and start-up operations. UNV was asked to join DPKO’s Technical Assessment Survey for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), in August 2003, and has also been invited by DPKO for specific training activities.

Since 1992, over 5,500 UN Volunteers from 135 countries, the vast majority from developing nations, have served in 34 UN field missions. UNV, which is administered by the United Nations Development Programme, mobilizes UN Volunteers in more than 160 professional categories, including civil administration, electoral assistance and human rights, as well as administrative, logistical and technical roles.

More than 1,200 UN Volunteers are currently serving in seven UN peace operations (Afghanistan, 34; Democratic Republic of the Congo, 341; Eritrea, 84; Guatemala, 65; Kosovo, 250; Sierra Leone, 182, Timor-Leste, 250). By early 2004, the number is expected to reach 1500 UN Volunteers serving in nine missions.