Walking in my Father's Footsteps

Dr. Stephen Jackson, Former UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya
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My story begins long before I joined the United Nations. I grew up with volunteering in my blood. My father, Bill Jackson, was a senior staff member of the UN Volunteers (UNV) its early days, and through his stories, I learned early on that this work was about more than programmes—it was about serving people with dignity. I have served as UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya since 2021, after nearly thirty years of experience across international development, peacebuilding and humanitarian affairs. I have worked through post-conflict recovery in the Great Lakes, supported peacekeeping and political transitions in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and helped launch global peacebuilding strategies in
New York and led UNDP in Gabon.

Co-creating the future

The seed planted in me by my father’s passion and by volunteering itself remains central throughout my career. 

Volunteering, I believe, turns people from passive recipients of development into co-creators of their futures. It builds sustainable solutions because communities own them, not because they receive them.

Leading with Courage, Balance and Belief in People

Fenella Frost, UNDP Resident Representative in Malawi, formerly in Comoros
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What has always driven my work is the belief that development is richer, more sustainable and more just when every person has the chance to contribute. Regardless of gender, background or circumstance, people must have the opportunity to play their part and fulfill their potential. That conviction, along with a passion for sustainable development, is what led me to join the UN and eventually UNDP.

Working across UN headquarters and country offices, I have been inspired by countless colleagues who dedicate themselves to impact. But inspiration also comes from outside the UN. When I travel to communities across Malawi or speak with mothers, farmers, entrepreneurs and people building better lives for their families, I am reminded why I do this work; not because of a job title, but because of a calling that began as many meaningful things do, with volunteering.

A volunteer at heart

Change is in our Hands

Nelson Muffuh, UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa
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Every day, I work to bring together the United Nations family in South Africa to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But before this role, before the meetings, milestones and coordination, my story began with something far simpler: volunteering.

Inspired by Nelson Mandela’s words, “It is in your hands to create a better world for all,” I believe that the world changes only when people choose to act. Volunteerism was my first step, and it has shaped everything since.

Finding purpose through service, I didn’t start volunteering with a grand plan. I joined organisations like Transparency International and Amnesty International because I cared about their causes and wanted to help. What I didn’t realize then was how much those experiences would define my future. 

A Life of Purpose

Jane Marie Ong'olo, Regional Director, UNODC Regional Office for Southern Africa
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Every morning, I wake up with a sense of purpose, knowing that the work I do helps build a safer, fairer world. A world where people are protected from the harms of drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism. It’s not always easy work. It challenges me, stretches me and reminds me daily why I chose this path. But my journey to this point began long before the titles and responsibilities. It began with a desire to make a difference.

Finding my calling
As a young girl, I often questioned the inequalities I saw around me. I watched girls my age held back by barriers such as exclusion and lack of opportunity, and I knew something had to change. I felt drawn to act. That curiosity grew into a calling. 

I sought spaces where I could contribute meaningfully, helping others overcome the obstacles in their way. What started as compassion became a lifelong mission to expand opportunity for those too often left behind. 

“Find a sense of purpose in what you do”

UNDP interviews Svenja Meyer
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What does it really take to build a career inside the UN system?
Svenja Meyer, a Junior Professional Officer (JPO) with United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Regional Office in the Arab States, reflects candidly on her journey so far. Interviewed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), she speaks about ambition and what the system demands—and gives back. Below are excerpts from the interview.

What is your educational background? 
I have a bachelor’s degree in Russian Studies/Political Science and a master’s degree in International Relations with focus on conflicts and transformations in the Middle East.

Investing in the Future of Fundraising through UN Volunteers

United Nations Volunteers
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Through the United Nations Volunteer (UNV), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is strengthening how country offices raise funds in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Across many emerging markets, more people are giving online—often through mobile phones—but country offices do not always have the skills or tools to keep pace. The Fundraising Excellence (Fx) programme was created to help close that gap.

Led by UNICEF’s global fundraising teams within the Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP), the Fx programme builds long-term fundraising skills across country offices. Its New Talents pathway focuses on digital fundraising, building the practical skills offices need to grow local support sustainably.

Why Measurement Must Evolve

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The SWVR Global Webinar Series forms part of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) wider dissemination and engagement efforts. The series will unpack the report’s key findings, explore its analytical frameworks and tools, and support regional and country‑level rollout through established UN and partner processes.

If we don’t measure it, do we truly support it?

Global Webinar Series SWVR 2026
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Louise Chamberlain, Deputy Executive Coordinator of UNV, opened the session by situating the discussion in today’s global reality: a world where volunteers continue to respond to crises, support communities and drive development, yet remain largely invisible in formal data systems.

The paradox of volunteerism: everywhere, yet not always visible

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