Our funding partners are essential for UNV to mobilize a much-needed resource: dedicated and skilled people. From the seasoned and optimistic to the young and committed, UN Volunteers share their energy and skills with nations and communities around the globe through UN entity placements. UN Volunteers are a flexible and talented resource that ensure scale, impact and sustainability in peace and development interventions, including in crisis and post-crisis situations.
When partners fund UNV’s work they can increase the visibility of their international engagement and promote people-centered development cooperation. In addition to broadening participation by supporting UN Volunteers in their field assignments, funding partners also assist UNV to uphold the value and global recognition of volunteerism. Funding UNV is possible through the UNV Special Voluntary Fund and Full Funding Programme.
Special Voluntary Fund
UNV receives contributions to its Special Voluntary Fund (SVF), an open non-earmarked UNV trust fund, from a diverse set of funding partners. UNV relies on contributions from a wide range of UN Member States and other partners, as the SVF is a critical resource for UNV in carrying out its dual mandate: to advocate for volunteerism and to deploy volunteers in support of United Nations efforts to achieve peace and development results. The fund helps strengthen volunteer policy and infrastructure worldwide, with a focus on integrating volunteerism into the 2030 Agenda, and it supports research and evidence on volunteerism.
During 2021, UN Member States contributed US $4,700,676 to the Special Voluntary Fund. Contributions were received from the governments of Germany, Switzerland, France, Ireland, Kazakhstan, China, Czech Republic, Bangladesh and Thailand. UNV also received individual donations through its Digital Giving Platform.
It is a testament to the solidarity and support for the power of volunteering that countries from the global South contributed to this special fund.
UNV seeks to continue and strengthen its engagement with the current partners contributing to the SVF, as well as to increase the pool of contributing partners. Increased and predictable investments will enable UNV to further scale up and promote the impact of volunteerism and volunteers globally and in priority countries, while widening opportunities for marginalized groups through volunteering to leave no one behind.
Further information is available in the UNV Special Voluntary Fund Report 2021 and Annual Report 2021.
Full Funding Programme
The UNV Full Funding programme provides UN Volunteers with an opportunity to share knowledge and gain experience by volunteering with UN projects and programmes. Through sponsorship of assignments, partner governments contribute to international development and peace efforts and provide volunteers invaluable experience within the UN that they share at home and abroad.
Contributions to the Full Funding Programme amounted to US $25,162,898 in 2021.
Further information is available in the UNV Full Funding Programme Report 2021 and dedicated page on how to sponsor UN Volunteers.