UNV is well known for the recruitment and mobilization of volunteers, but UNV does more to help UN entities work towards development and peace. UNV works in three main areas: we advocate for volunteerism, we integrate volunteerism into development planning, and we mobilize volunteers throughout the world. Our partnerships with UN entities are therefore increasingly diversified. 

While cost-efficiency is often one consideration in the deployment of volunteers worldwide, UN Volunteers bring the spirit of volunteerism and add value to global development work. At the heart of UNV is the conviction that voluntary action by millions of people is a vastly under-recognized and under-utilized resource. If fully harnessed, it would strengthen efforts in tackling development challenges worldwide.

We work with UN entities in a number of areas, for example, preventing and recovering from crisis, combatting HIV/AIDS, promoting environmental protection for sustainable development, fostering democratic governance, reducing human poverty, and working towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

See a list of some of the UN family partnering with UNV in our three main areas of activity.