On 25 February, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) brought United Nations entities together for a webinar with one goal: get ready for the International Volunteer Year (IVY) 2026—and make it count. IVY 2026 is reaching communities and institutions around the world. The UN has a crucial role to play: spreading the message, working with partners across regions, and helping more people take action as volunteers.
Volunteers are already at the heart of what the UN does. They show up in emergencies. They help build peace. They support climate action and strengthen communities every day. IVY 2026 is the moment to put that work in the spotlight—to recognize volunteers not as a side story, but as a driving force behind the UN’s impact worldwide.
Opening the webinar, Toily Kurbanov, UNV Executive Coordinator, set the tone: one voice, strong partnerships, and no mixed messages. If the UN wants the world to value volunteerism, it has to lead by example.
“If we want IVY 2026 to leave a lasting mark, we must avoid fragmented messages and stand as one UN. This is our moment to reinforce the value of volunteerism—not only today, but for years to come.” Toily Kurbanov, UNV Executive Coordinator.
UN entities highlighted the need for practical collaboration. They spoke about the importance of aligning messaging, identifying country-level priorities, and connecting UN efforts with Member State initiatives.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) took the floor, highlighting that IVY 2026 builds momentum for its existing volunteer programmes while opening up new areas of engagement.
“Through two International Year themes in FAO, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists and the International Year of the Woman Farmer, there is clear potential to build synergies with IVY 2026 and reinforce each other’s advocacy efforts throughout the year.” Leopoldo Ferrari, IVY 2026 focal point at FAO.
“At IOM, as part of our IVY 2026 initiative, we are launching a podcast series featuring former UN Volunteers who now serve in senior management positions, alongside a collection of volunteer testimonies that highlight how volunteering shapes careers and contributes meaningfully to advancing IOM’s migration mission worldwide." Ms. Fatima Diop, IVY 2026 focal point at IOM.
“UNDP sees IVY 2026 as a chance to connect ongoing efforts at the country level and identify opportunities for joint action. Collaborating across entities will help us build on existing strengths and deepen the impact of volunteerism in sustainable development.” Victor Garrido Delgado, IVY 2026 focal point at UNDP.
“UNICEF values the contribution volunteers make across diverse contexts. IVY 2026 offers a helpful platform for exchanging experiences and continuing to strengthen how we support and engage volunteers in our programmes.” Aiganym Utebayeva, IVY 2026 focal point at UNICEF.
The first webinar of 2026 with UN entities closed with a shared commitment to keep momentum strong, deepen collaboration, and ensure that IVY 2026 delivers not only celebration, but transformation.
About IVY 2026: Adopted by the UN General Assembly through resolution 78/127, the International Volunteer Year 2026 calls on the global community to recognize and strengthen the role of volunteers in advancing sustainable development. IVY 2026 invites governments, UN entities, civil society, academia, and the private sector to foster safe, inclusive, and innovative volunteering environments and elevate the contributions of volunteers worldwide.
For more information and resources, visit IVY 2026 Knowledge Portal, IVY 2026 webpage or access related materials on IVY 2026 Trello.