In June 2025, Dr. Mahamadou Nouri Kassimoune Tago and Nana Nazifa Hamissou Garba joined a cohort of 40 UN Volunteer Specialists supporting WHO's vaccination drive under the emergency response framework. Together, they work in districts where reaching children is both most urgent and most challenging—bringing not just vaccines, but trust and hope. 

Peace is when people can speak without fearIn Beni, Kakessiwa, originally from Togo, serves as a UN Volunteer Civil Affairs Officer at the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) Joint Operations Center. His role is to track security developments and coordinate responses between military, police, and civilian actors.

Christian works hand in hand with local institutions to rebuild trust and empower communities. He collaborates with police and justice officials, providing training to combat organized crime, corruption, and money laundering. In remote border areas, he helps install solar-powered systems so police posts can stay connected and equipped. These efforts are part of a broader peacebuilding initiative aimed at building trust in public institutions and making communities feel safer.

Meet Judith from Nigeria

The initiative focuses on protecting forests—vital for wildlife, climate, and the communities that depend on them. It also supports the government’s ongoing efforts, launched in 2022, to strengthen forest management across Gabon. Working in 17 rural communities, these UN Volunteers gather local knowledge, lead discussions, and share practical tips on how to protect the environment.

Meet Rafiatu Umarayi Alhassan and Samuel Peprah Bekoe. Both are UN Volunteer Field Coordinators and part of Young Africa Innovates (YAI) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ghana, a bold initiative helping young people across all 16 regions of the country turn their ideas into solutions. 

In Niger, Kadiatou Moumouni is more than a UN Volunteer; she’s part of what defines the new normal in the UN system—inclusion. At the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO), she connects government, UN agencies, and civil society to champion gender equality, human rights, and disability inclusion. One of her standout contributions? A simple attendance sheet—redesigned to track the participation of persons with disabilities.