The work of UN Volunteers in improving basic services has two aspects: developing the capacity of local, institutional and national authorities to deliver these services; and developing the capacity of communities themselves to make best use of these services.

It is also about improving accountability, and building participation so that the people who benefit from them are included in the planning and provision of social services.

Strengthening local governance: At the local level, people want to see efficiency, effectiveness and accountability in their public service delivery. Volunteerism can promote inclusive participation of citizens in local development cycles, and  UNV has extensive experience in mobilizing community members through voluntary action and promoting access to basic services.

Primary healthcare and HIV/AIDS: In many countries, more and more children under five are dying than ever before due to malnutrition and disease. The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains one of the biggest threats to Sub-Saharan Africa, and malaria kills more than one million people, mostly children, every year.

Primary healthcare services provided by UN Volunteers range from child and maternal health care to nutrition, reproductive health, health education including HIV/AIDS awareness, and sanitation. Volunteer health workers enabled by UN Volunteers can make also a big difference by helping communities gain access to healthcare, and by educating people about preventing infection.

Functional literacy: Illiteracy is a major barrier for those seeking to improve their health and quality of life. UN Volunteers  can support the provision of literacy services by volunteer teachers.

UN Volunteers can organize and manage community literacy and life-skills education services and provide 'training-of-trainer' programmes to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of functional literacy teachers.

• Learn more about UNV and disaster/crisis prevention and recovery
• Learn more about UNV and the environment and climate change

If you wish to register your profile in the UNV database of potential candidates, please go to register to be a UN Volunteer.