From the Gulf to the Globe: UN Volunteers making a difference

United Nations Volunteers
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In 2025, the Special Voluntary Fund (SVF)  opened new doors for volunteer engagement across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Six national UN Volunteers stepped forward to represent countries that have traditionally been less visible within the UN system, bringing local voices and expertise to the heart of global development efforts. Three volunteers came from Kuwait, two from Qatar, and one from the United Arab Emirates. Each worked alongside UN agencies and contributed to areas ranging from migration and development to education, counter-terrorism, food security, and health.

This initiative wasn’t just about rolling out a system—it showed what’s possible when drawing on local expertise.

From Uzbekistan to the world: Uzbek volunteers set to serve globally

Uzbekistan and UNV Sign Letter of Exchange to Launch UNV Full Funding Programme for international UN Volunteers
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The signing ceremony, held at UNV headquarters in Bonn, was attended by the First Deputy Director of the Youth Affairs Agency and the Director of Management Services of UNV. This reaffirms Uzbekistan’s commitment to promoting youth engagement and international volunteerism. The Uzbek delegation was represented by the Youth Affairs Agency and the Association of Volunteers of Uzbekistan.

Executive Coordinator speaks on UN Day: Celebrating 80 Years of multilateralism and Germany’s steadfast commitment

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Toily Kurbanov, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) spoke on the occasion of the United Nations Day in Bonn. His remarks emphasized the UN’s relevance, the need for reform, and Bonn’s symbolic importance as a hub for global solidarity and action.

Staatsministerin Güler,

Landesminister Liminski,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

Thank you for giving me the honour to say a few words on behalf of the United Nations in Bonn. 

Before coming here, I asked ChatGPT what would be the best speech about the UN to deliver to a German audience. It gave me a very good one—except the first sentence which went: “The UN is the only place where you can sit for hours and listen to a hundred speeches, and not one of them answers the question you asked. 

Doha Political Declaration elevates volunteerism as a pillar of social cohesion

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Doha Political Declaration of the “World Social Summit” under the title “the Second World Summit for Social Development” stated (in regards to volunteerism):

Encouraging volunteerism at all levels–local, national and international–and recognizing that these efforts contribute to social cohesion by promoting civic engagement.

The UN Volunteer Midwives of Burkina Faso

United Nations Volunteers
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In Burkina Faso, conflict has forced over two million people from their homes—one in ten citizens. With nearly a third of health facilities shut down, women and girls are giving birth without safe care. To help, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) sent 25 national UN Volunteer midwives to five regions hit hardest by violence. In just two months, they delivered over 1,400 babies, provided 2,700 prenatal checkups, and treated 200 emergency complications. 

Among them are Agathe Ouoba in Diapaga and Élodie Toe in Titao—midwives saving lives and restoring dignity where it’s needed most.

Abandoning is not an option: In Diapaga, in the eastern Tapoa region, Agathe Ouoba is a midwife on the front lines. In May 2025, gunfire hit the town and shut down the health center. But life kept moving. “We were told to stay home,” Agathe says. “Women still went into labour. We helped one mother deliver at home using just a single-use ventouse. She and her baby made it.” 

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