Western Afghanistan: “This time,” says Shiringi, a UNV volunteer working with UNDP/ELECT supporting the Independent Election Commission, “we are in the co-driver’s seat. The work we are doing with our national counterparts is really building capacity for the future.” Read

Northern Afghanistan: “I am still moved to see people travelling for miles to queue for a registration card and participate in elections,” confesses Jetiti, a UNV volunteer in a region of Afghanistan where security concerns have recently increased significantly. Read

Dili, Timor-Leste: A total of 62 international UNV volunteers have arrived in Timor Leste to support the coming local elections, to meet a request of the Government of Timor-Leste. Read

Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire: In post-conflict Côte d'Ivoire, enabling the democratic process means a lot of work preparing for the upcoming elections. In the UN Mission Electoral Team, 124 of 175 staff are UNV volunteers. Read

Khartoum, Sudan: UNV Executive Coordinator, Flavia Pansieri, has spent five days in Sudan, meeting one of the largest contingents of UNV volunteers in the field. Read

Warrap, Sudan: Do I like it all the time? No! Do I complain sometimes? Of course!... Then on the flip side, there is so much to be grateful for. I have grown much stronger emotionally and mentally and have a better understanding of myself. Read

Tonkolili, Sierra Leone: As Operations Advisor, I came up with an approach to strengthen the working relationship with the political parties. I proposed through the NEC that a committee should be formed, which would include three representatives from each party. The move was welcomed and with the blessings of NEC Commissioner, the Peace and Reconciliation Committee was formed... Ever since, the political parties have entered dialogue as friends. Read

Kathmandu, Nepal: The contributions of UNV volunteers to elections in Nepal were formally recognized this week in a ceremony held in Kathmandu. Deputy Executive Coordinator Joyce Yu visited to meet the UNV volunteers involved, listen to their experiences and acknowledge their achievements. Read

Kathmandu, Nepal: As voters in Nepal prepare to cast their ballots in the 10 April Constituent Assembly election, teams of UNV volunteers are helping local authorities make preparations across the country. Read

The year 2006 brought to fruition one of Africa’s longest anticipated elections:  for the first time in 45 years the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) took to the polls.  The elections marked a significant step in the peace process in the DRC, which is rebuilding following the end of a six-year civil that cost 4 million lives in fighting, hunger and disease. Read