Transforming passion for volunteerism into action in Kosovo

A Volunteer Fair was organized in Pristina, Kosovo to mark International Volunteer Day on 5 December. Participants learnt about volunteerism and careers in development. A conference co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, UNICEF Innovation Lab, UNV and OSCE also focused on raising awareness about the importance of voluntary work for the overall well-being of the community, and praised the work of volunteers in Kosovo.

Around 150 young people and potential volunteers met UN agencies and local NGOs during the Volunteer Fair in Pristina. The event also allowed participants to register on the Kosovo Volunteer Platform designed by the UNICEF Innovations Lab. The aim of this platform is to connect non-profit organizations and passionate volunteers for future collaborations.

UNV Sudan celebrates IVD 2017

On the occasion of IVD 2017, UNV Sudan in partnership with the Sudanese Red Crescent, organized a one-day workshop in Khartoum, where 30 national volunteers from local volunteering organizations, NGOs and National Youth Forum were invited, along with UNV to participate in an emergency first aid training.

The UNV Field Unit Khartoum, and the Sudanese Red Crescent held a day-long emergency first aid workshop to commemorate the International Volunteer Day under the theme “Volunteers Act First. Here. Everywhere.”.

UNV Sri Lanka planting trees for IVD

On 5 December 2017, UNV Sri Lanka celebrated International Volunteer Day by planting 5,000 trees in a drought-prone area in Sri Lanka. 

UNV with the special support of UNDP Sri Lanka under the Climate Change Adaptation Project (CCAP) joined hands with farm organizations, students of the Wayamba University, DMC Srilanka, the Volunteer Task Force and nearly 500 community volunteers to plant a select variety of trees on the riparian buffer of 10 selected tanks in the region of Galgamuwa Kurunegala.

Uni's pact with UN 'will benefit region'

Thailand has become the first country in Asean to sign an agreement with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme to promote the country's initiatives towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

UNDP Executive Board Decision (95/2) - Headquarter of UNV - see page 28

The Executive Board endorses the proposal of the Secretary General to accept the offer of the Government of the Germany to relocate the Headquarter of the United Nations Volunteers to Bonn from mid, 1996 onward. Therefore, The Executive Board authorizes the Administrator, following the acceptance in principle by the Secretary General, to continue discussuions in terms and provisions of the offer in order to resolve the outstanding issues and finalize the arrangement that will enable the transfer of the headquarters of the United Nations Volunteers to Bonn in July 1996.

UNDP Executive Board Decision (94/9) - see page 36

The Executive Board invites the Administrator to designate UNV as manager of Transfer Of Knowledge Through Expatriates National Initiative in addition to United Nations International Short-term Advisory Resource Programme, which has already merged with the United Nations Volunteers.

UNDP Governing Council Decision (92/20) - see pages 70-72

The GC notes the important role of UNV in humanitarian assistance.

UNDP Governing Council Decision (92/35) - see pages 97-99

The Governing Council welcomes, with due regard to the role of the United Nations Volunteers in development cooperation, its strengthened involvement in the humanitarian relief area and in related fields, ranging from capacity-building in disaster prevention, preparedness and mitigation to rehabilitation and reconstruction activities, working with the relevant United Nations bodies and international organizations.