7 way you can make a difference from your couch

UNV and the International Labour Organization (ILO) will partner on the deployment of UN Volunteers in support of the organization's work, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. Moussa Oumarou, ILO Deputy Director-General for Field Operations and Partnerships, and Olivier Adam, Executive Coordinator of UNV, signed the agreement on 9 March 2020, at ILO headquarters in Geneva.

The agreement was signed in Geneva, Switzerland, by Tim Martineau, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and Governance, a.i., and Olivier Adam, UNV Executive Coordinator. "Volunteers have played a critical role in the response to HIV since the earliest days of the epidemic," said Tim Martineau, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and Governance, a.i. "UNAIDS recognizes their importance, values their engagement and will continue to support their contribution in joining global efforts to end AIDS."

Administrative Guidelines for the Management of UN Volunteers UNV has developed administrative guidelines for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak containing operational measures for management of UN Volunteers. This document is intended for UNV personnel and host entity partners but may also be of interest to UN Volunteers and selected candidates affected by disruptions caused by COVID-19. 

One billion active volunteers worldwide are already making important contributions across all SDGs. In July 2020, governments and their partners will come together at the Global Technical Meeting on Reimagining Volunteerism for the 2030 Agenda to discuss what we know about the transformative potential of volunteering, and to reflect on how to maximize the impact of volunteering under the 2030 Agenda.

Why partner with UNV? UNV works with partners to integrate qualified, highly motivated and well-supported UN Volunteers into development programming to contribute to peace, development and humanitarian delivery worldwide. Who are UN Volunteers? Typically, UN Volunteers are mid-career professionals, with an average age of 35 years, who combine technical skills and professionalism with motivation and dedication.

UNV, in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a Bonn-based development agency providing services in the fields of sustainable development and international education, were proud to host Pedro Conceição, lead author of the 2019 HDR, in a presentation of the report's essential findings.

Both organizations recognize that volunteering for development can be a powerful force for change if inclusive, impactful and given appropriate support. Furthermore, they share a desire to promote quality volunteerism, undertaking research that articulates the diversity, value and impact of volunteering. UNV and VSO share learning and knowledge around volunteerism and the impact that volunteers contribute to the delivery of the SDGs.

The Human Development Report 2019 titled ‘Beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today: Inequalities in human development in the 21st Century’ will be the centre of discussion at GIZ tomorrow. The global launch of the report was in Colombia in December. The co-organized event between GIZ, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and the Human Development Report Office, will be the first launch in an outreach tour in Europe.