The Report provides an overview of results achieved by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme during the 2008-2009 biennium, in support of programme countries and United Nations organizations in their efforts towards peace and development, including achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

The Executive Board notes that the United Nations Volunteers programme can effectively contribute, at the community level, to addressing environmental sustainability, including climate change, and encourages the United Nations Volunteers programme to engage in community-level natural resources management and climate mitigation and adaptation activities, upon request by programme countries.

The Report provides an overview of the performance of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in 2006-2007, and information on results achieved in areas where UNV is making distinctive contributions to programme countries and United Nations system-wide efforts towards peace and development, including the Millennium Development Goals.

The Executive Board welcomes the increased involvement of nationally recruited volunteers in UNV activities and encourages continued efforts in this direction, noting its potential for capacity development and sustainability. Therefore, the Executive Board encourages UNV to continue to increase its focus on assisting programme countries in developing sustainable national capacities, to mobilize volunteers domestically through, inter alia, national volunteer schemes, volunteer centres and networks, where appropriate.

The Report provides an overview of the performance of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme during the biennium 2004-2005 through the results framework of the organization, which is aligned to the multi-year funding framework (MYFF) of UNDP. At its core are the areas of distinctive contribution that UNV makes to United Nations system-wide efforts towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The Executive Board recognizes the achievements of the UNV programme in articulating and advocating, including through innovative partnerships and networking, the importance of the contributions of volunteerism, in particular the role it plays towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Also, the Executive Board encourages governments to contribute to the Special Voluntary Fund to enable UNV to further explore, expand and strengthen the role of volunteerism and volunteer contributions to development.

This Report addresses the activities of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) during 2002-2003 and highlights the challenges ahead. The biennium was marked by continued dynamic growth, an evolution of the culture of partnership and networking, and a strategic decision to reinforce the added value of volunteerism in all UNV operations, building on the momentum created by the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) 2001. The contribution of UNV is articulated through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the UNDP multi-year funding framework (MYFF).

The Executive Board expresses appreciation for the activities of the United Nations Volunteers programme during the 2000-2001 biennium and the achievement for the first time of over 5,000 serving volunteers in its thirtieth anniversary year. Furthermore, the Executive Board Commends the United Nations Volunteers programme on its work as focal point for the International Year of Volunteers and encourages its continued support for the recognition, facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteering.

Corrigendum - Page 20, Annex III of DP/2002/18

The Report provides an overview of the principle characteristics and achievements of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme during the biennium 2000-2001 and identifies some of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. The opportunities opened up by the International Year of Volunteers 2001 (IYV 2001), anticipated in the report for the previous biennium, have become a reality.