This Overview of the UNV Programme Strategy summarizes the programme approach of UNV, outlining the focus of our work and defining realistic and practical ways to embed volunteerism into peace and development activities. We hope you find it useful in highlighting potential areas of synergy and collaboration. Read

A fact sheet providing an overview of UNV's Arab Youth Volunteering for a Better Future Programme is now available in Arabic, English and French. The initiative aims to facilitate young people's participation in five Arab states through volunteerism as a positive and sustainable mechanism for effecting social change. Read

People have many reasons to volunteer: to help others, serve society or contribute their time, skills and talents to a cause in which they believe. The actions of volunteers promote peace and development, and this is the focus of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme. Read

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has a long history of supporting relief operations in the aftermath of disasters, from Hurricane Mitch in Central America in 1998, to the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, the Honduras storm in 2007 and the 2008 cyclones in Myanmar and Haiti.

Scores of UNV volunteers have helped coordinate relief efforts, mobilize resources and rehabilitate devastated populations. Their rapid deployment, professional skills and prior experience in disaster response brings hope to overwhelmed communities. Read

The environmental movement was started by volunteers, and it has thrived on volunteer effort. It will require the ingenuity and actions of millions of volunteers to address the challenges ahead.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme encourages people to contribute to environmental sustainability by ‘volunteering for our planet’. Read