Facing the storm together—UN Volunteers inclusion in action

United Nations Volunteers
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In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where migration, conflict, and climate change collide, some communities face more danger than others. Displaced women, children, older people, and persons with disabilities are often hit hardest—and left out of national plans, climate solutions, and efforts to build global resilience. That’s why inclusion isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a must. With support from the Special Voluntary Fund (SVF), UN Volunteers Jahidul Islam and Hiba Drizi are making sure crisis response and protection systems across the region don’t leave anyone behind.

In the MENA region, climate change is intensifying existing hardships—shrinking food and water supplies and deepening instability for communities already displaced by conflict. Enter Jahidul Islam: a Bangladeshi climate and disability inclusion expert who brings both technical insight and lived experience. He is a wheelchair user who has faced structural barriers firsthand.

Before 18: Mozambique’s girls deserve more

United Nations Volunteers
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Nearly half of Mozambican girls are married before they turn 18, with some as young as 15. The country has the fifth-highest rate of child marriage in the world. Child marriages cut short childhoods, block education, and trap girls in cycles of hardship. Ending child marriage isn’t just about laws—it’s about giving girls real choices and a fair shot at life. Eulália da Gloria Sambo is a UN Volunteer Programme Specialist with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Mozambique. Let's hear from Eulália about her efforts to end child marriage.

I come from Inhambane City, a small town in southern Mozambique. I am currently based in Nampula Province, where I have been serving as a UN Volunteer with UNFPA since February 2023. 

Child marriage impacts far too many girls, far too early in life. I help local partners by offering support and helping organize activities like mentoring, getting children back into school, and improving access to health services, especially those related to sexual and reproductive health.

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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