Generation Action: From skills to solutions

United Nations Volunteers
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On 15 July, World Youth Skills Day celebrates the power of young people to shape a more just, sustainable future through skills, innovation, and action. As global challenges grow more complex, from climate change to inequality, youth are stepping up not just as advocates but as problem-solvers and peacebuilders.
 

Technology is accelerating this shift. From digital literacy and coding to the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), young people are gaining the tools to drive change. Over 70 percent of secondary students now use AI in their academic work, with many relying on tools like ChatGPT to learn, create, and lead. As AI continues to evolve, volunteers are using it to analyze data faster and boost the impact of their social initiatives. 

From 190 to 9: UNV's digital makeover

Albert Hasani, UNV Information and Communication Technology
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It all kicked off with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Digital Strategy—Cloud first initiative. Back in early 2019, UNV was running on 190 servers plus. Fast forward to April 2024, that number dropped to just 47. That's an 80 percent cut in clutter.

Then came a pivotal moment. The United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Information and Technology Management team visited UNV headquarters in Bonn and offered a candid assessment: our systems were due for a significant upgrade. UNV responded with determination. It was an opportunity to review our systems and think of solutions.

We didn't just patch up things. We rethought everything.

Physical servers? Slashed from 7 to 2.

Virtual machines? Down from 47 to 9.

Legacy systems that translated web addresses? Gone. Replaced by Cloud-based platforms.

When code meets culture: UVP devs sync in Morocco

Shalmoli Das and Steffen Schneider, UNV Information and Communication Technology
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In May 2025, Unified Volunteering Platform (UVP) developers from around the world converged, both in person and online, for a dynamic hybrid meet-up in Morocco. The event blended the buzz of face-to-face collaboration with the reach of Microsoft Teams, creating a space where ideas sparked, code flowed, and connections deepened.

The focus? Supercharging delivery, utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, and aligning on key initiatives—especially the business process streamlining project. But beyond the tech, the gathering was a celebration of what really powers development: people. 

From seasoned engineers to rising talent, participants shared one mission. Build better, smarter, and more human-centered UVP solutions. Whether onsite or remote, everyone brought their voice to the table, proving that great code starts with great communication and leads to stronger technical outcomes.

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