Volunteering to accelerate development: from exploring concepts to prototyping ideas

Matías Acosta, Chief of Exploration, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Argentina
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Volunteering comprises the formal or informal activities that we do out of free will where the monetary reward is not the main motivation. It is often motivated by solidarity and mutual aid and is particularly relevant among people living under conditions of vulnerability in our country. Volunteerism is capable of mobilizing extraordinary human resources and talents to respond to citizens' needs, and ignite peer-to-peer trust, cohesion and emotional support. It can also tackle some of the underlying causes of social exclusion, such as lack of employment, education or health.

In July, a Global Technical Meeting on Reimagining Volunteerism for the 2030 Agenda, organized on the sidelines of the high-level Political Forum by UNV and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, aimed to identify volunteerism concepts and practices that can effectively accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The value of life in times of pandemic

The situation of human rights in Mexico and Honduras
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The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme provides country offices with specialized professionals and specific support on projects related to human rights. We work to ensure that the government response takes into account the specificities of each group in a situation of vulnerability – for example, indigenous peoples – also in the treatment of the COVID-19 pandemic.

TRAPPED IN NO ONE’S LAND

Andrea Nomdedeu started her UNV assignment with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Mexico in April 2019. As the one responsible for migration and internal displacement, she monitors the situation of thousands of Central American migrants who pass through the country each year, in many cases to try to enter the United States.

She describes the dramatic situation of the irregular migrants held in detention centers in Mexico.

UN Volunteers train 800 girls and women leaders for conflict prevention in Guinea

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In Guinea, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and UNV mobilized 14 UN Community Volunteers to provide support to women community leaders for the prevention of possible conflicts related to the legislative and presidential elections. This project, financed by the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), is implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Government of Guinea to strengthen community conflict management systems, including the participation and engagement of girls and women leaders in community settings.

The UN Community Volunteers deployed – seven women and seven men – initially underwent training in the peaceful resolution and management of conflicts, including gender-based violence, to sensitize women and girls, local and religious authorities, and the population. The volunteers held 132 dialogue sessions in the five communes of Conakry: Matoto, Kaloum, Ratoma, Dixinn, and Matam.  One of these is Alpha Makanera. 

Bringing a non-traditional background to OHCHR Guatemala in the context of COVID-19

César Pérez, national UN Expert Volunteer, OHCHR Guatemala
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As countries continue implementing and adjusting their COVID-19 responses, it has become increasingly important for the world to consider the interrelated and mutually reinforcing nature of the founding pillars of the United Nations: human rights, peace and security, and development. National UN Expert Volunteer César Pérez serves as Information Management Associate within the Information and Press Unit of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). He shares his experience demonstrating and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. His assignment is financed through the Special Voluntary Fund of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme.

Despite the need for immediate response to the threats posed by the pandemic, countries must maintain a long-term perspective. The protection of human rights would help maintain peace and security and ensure the continuity of sustainable development, especially in post-conflict states such as Guatemala. In line with this, OHCHR continues to fulfill its mandate in Guatemala – albeit virtually due to COVID-19. 

Food for all in times of COVID-19: Behind the frontlines

Ângela Macie and Hortencio Muana, UN Volunteers with WFP
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On 9 October 2020, the World Food Programme (WFP) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite the threats posed by COVID-19, WFP is working around the clock to maintain food assistance programmes which offer a lifeline to 87 million people globally.  UN Volunteers are an integral part of WFP operations, and share their contributions.

COVID-19 threatens millions already vulnerable due to food insecurity

Just a couple of months before COVID-19 spread across nearly every border in the world, Ângela Gregório António Chale Macie began serving as a UN Volunteer in Nampula, Mozambique. Little did she know just how critical her role would become for the people in Erati district when the Coronavirus endangered their already-limited access to food.

Through volunteering: supporting UNRWA in addressing youth unemployment in Gaza

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The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is leading efforts to aid Palestinians in Gaza. In addition to managing schools and business development platforms, the agency recently collaborated with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme to re-organize a youth volunteer programme. This is a lifeline for youth in the State of Palestine, leveraging their capacities to address unmet community needs, whilst increasing career readiness at the same time. For the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we celebrate these achievements.

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), refugees, displaced persons and women are particularly vulnerable to economic shocks because they are disproportionally represented in the labor market as either informal laborers or underpaid and unpaid caregivers.

Better City, Better Life: helping communities in crisis-hit urban spaces rebuild and recover

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In the Arab States, an urban sprawl is taking shape while the development of sustainable infrastructure lags behind. More than half of the population in the region resides in cities and human settlements – an estimate expected to increase to 70 per cent by 2030. UN Volunteers serving with UN-Habitat are supporting efforts to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on urban life in the region, while ensuring the region’s infrastructure needs are addressed in an inclusive manner.

On World Cities Day, we highlight the contributions of two UN Volunteers serving in support of UN-Habitat’s crisis recovery efforts in Lebanon and Iraq, where property loss and mass displacement have created complex urban environments.

Ready to bring the UN's best experience to Kazakhstan

Meruyert Burkitbayeva, Egemen Qazaqstan
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The hopes and dreams of today’s youth are poles apart from those of their parents. Born in an era of globalization, the millennials and Gen Zers think and act differently – for them, there is no such thing as borders. One of these young people is Dina Akylbekova (Kazakhstan), who serves as a UN Volunteer with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkey.

Dina is one of seven people selected for international volunteering in the framework of an agreement between the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and Kazakhstan. Knowledgeable young expert that she is, Dina is quickly adjusting to the UN environment and gaining sound experience in the field of international politics. Born and raised in Kazakhstan, the now 26-year-old volunteer serves at the UNDP office in Istanbul.

Communities thrive when engaged in defining and prioritizing their needs

Lessons in tackling poverty from Madagascar
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Androy is the southernmost region of Madagascar, and one of the most vulnerable areas in the country. Since 2016, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has stepped up its support to the Government of Madagascar in order to break the cycle of poverty, and benefits from the support of UN Volunteers to engage communities in recovery and resilience. Manitra Raoliarisoa is one of these UN Volunteers and shares her experience as a Local Support Specialist.

Isolation, war, famine, arid climate, poor access to basic social services, and lack of access to drinking water and electricity are common issues in Androy region. In the face of difficult external and environmental conditions, it has been challenging to recruit high-performing, skilled, and dedicated individuals to build a local team for the Androy region.

Embracing their 70s with the UN: a tale of two senior UN Volunteers

James and Carmen Haddow, UN Volunteers with UNSOM and UNAMA
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This year, the United Nations turns 75 years old. This milestone provides a timely opportunity to celebrate the organization’s accomplishments and reflect on lessons learned. On 10 October this year, James Haddow turned 75 years old; his wife, Carmen Haddow, is 72. They are both currently serving as UN Volunteers: James as an Electoral Logistics Specialist with the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), and Carmen as Administrative Officer, Human Resources, Training and UNV Support, with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Oceans and continents apart, they are united in their passion for the United Nations and advancing sustainable development.

Senior UN Volunteers are not common – the average global age of UN Volunteers is 32 – but the Haddows can attest to the many benefits their presence brings both to the missions they serve, and to themselves as older volunteers. Rather than spending their retirement years in quiet relaxation, the Haddows, both from the United Kingdom, chose to share their lifetime of expertise as UN Volunteers with United Nations missions.

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