Bringing new perspectives and fresh ideas

While serving as a UN Volunteer Finance Officer with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Guatemala, I had the opportunity to participate in pilot projects in the area of Finance. The whole financial framework of the WFP is in a process of transition towards higher transparency, cost efficiency and accountability. I was excited to contribute to this transformation.

Guatemala city, Guatemala: While serving as a UN Volunteer Finance Officer with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Guatemala, I had the opportunity to participate in pilot projects in the area of Finance. The whole financial framework of the WFP is in a process of transition towards higher transparency, cost efficiency and accountability. I was excited to contribute to this transformation.

Safety of UN Volunteers in South Sudan amidst fighting

Between Friday 8 July and Sunday 10 July, heavy fighting broke out in Juba which had consequences for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Agencies, Funds and Programmes active in the country.

A ceasefire was declared on Monday 11 July 2016. At least 272 people have been killed in the recent violence. Two peacekeepers and one United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) staff lost their lives while several other peacekeepers have sustained injuries. 

Safety of UN Volunteers in South Sudan amidst fighting

Between Friday 8 July and Sunday 10 July, heavy fighting broke out in Juba which had consequences for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Agencies, Funds and Programmes active in the country.

A ceasefire was declared on Monday 11 July 2016. At least 272 people have been killed in the recent violence. Two peacekeepers and one United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) staff lost their lives while several other peacekeepers have sustained injuries. 

UNV launches revamped Online Volunteering service

On 15 July, UNV will be launching its new Online Volunteering service from Brazil and in collaboration with the United Nations country team and the Samsung Latin American Office.
Brazil has been selected as the location for the global launch as the country ranks #4 worldwide for the number of UN Online Volunteers and has a high potential for growth in online volunteering activities in general.

UNV Honorary Ambassador Mr. Takehito Nakata (in memoriam)

From 1993 to 2006, Mr Takehito Nakata served as UNV’s one and only Honorary Ambassador, in honour of his son, Atsuhito Nakata, who was tragically killed while serving as UN Volunteer Electoral Supervisor for the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia in 1993. Mr. Nakata dedicated his time to the promotion of volunteerism in Japan. He undertook numerous keynote speeches, lectures and interviews with the aim of increasing UNV’s visibility and promoting volunteerism. His official missions and in-country activities were financed by the Japan Trust Fund.

UNV Honorary Ambassador Mr. Takehito Nakata (in memoriam)

From 1993 to 2006, Mr Takehito Nakata served as UNV’s one and only Honorary Ambassador, in honour of his son, Atsuhito Nakata, who was tragically killed while serving as UN Volunteer Electoral Supervisor for the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia in 1993. Mr. Nakata dedicated his time to the promotion of volunteerism in Japan. He undertook numerous keynote speeches, lectures and interviews with the aim of increasing UNV’s visibility and promoting volunteerism. His official missions and in-country activities were financed by the Japan Trust Fund.

Volunteer network created to promote social participation and solidarity

Minas Gerais, Brazil: The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Brazil and the State of Minas Gerais, through the Department of Human Rights, Social Participation and Citizenship, have signed an agreement to establish a Volunteer Network in Minas Gerais.

The project seeks to promote the creation, structuring and implementation of a Volunteer Network in Minas Gerais, through the joint action of partner institutions, in order to contribute to the promotion of social participation and collective solidarity for local transformation.

Volunteer network created to promote social participation and solidarity

Minas Gerais, Brazil: The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Brazil and the State of Minas Gerais, through the Department of Human Rights, Social Participation and Citizenship, have signed an agreement to establish a Volunteer Network in Minas Gerais.

The project seeks to promote the creation, structuring and implementation of a Volunteer Network in Minas Gerais, through the joint action of partner institutions, in order to contribute to the promotion of social participation and collective solidarity for local transformation.

Overwhelming support for UNV at Executive Board annual meeting 2016

“Quite simply put – the UN could not deploy, and Security Council mandates could not be delivered, without UNV.” These were the comments of Assistant Secretary-General Hubert Price of the UN Department of Field Support, speaking on behalf of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Political Affairs. Speaking at the annual session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in New York on 9 June 2016.

“Think of volunteers as the amino acids of the Sustainable Development Goals,” said UNV Executive Coordinator Richard Dictus at forum in Washington

 “Think of [Volunteers] as the amino acids of the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Richard Dictus, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, addressing the 10th Anniversary International Forum for Volunteering in Development held at the Brookings Institution in Washington on 14 June 2016.