18 November 2004

Bonn/Washington, D.C.: The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and Peace Corps have signed a memorandum strengthening cooperation between the organizations.

As the first official agreement linking the two, the memorandum focuses on closer collaboration in the promotion of volunteer action, as well as the recruitment of American citizens wanting to serve as UN Volunteers.

“It is a continuation of a partnership that has been developed between UNV and Peace Corps that recognizes the new challenges faced by volunteers working around the world,” says Rick Montpelier, a recruitment and placement specialist with Peace Corps.

Peace Corps, the Washington-based volunteer sending organization, and UNV have been working together for more than 30 years. In 1971, the first Peace Corps/UN Volunteer was assigned in Yemen to provide technical expertise in agriculture.

Fifty Peace Corps/UN Volunteers are currently supporting development projects in more than 20 countries.