Whether with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Missions in Mali (MINUSMA), the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), or the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSO), female UN Volunteers address the root causes of conflicts and evolving security challenges that impact the people.

I started my career in the UN System as a UN Volunteer from 2007 to 2013, serving in two UN missions. As a former UN Volunteer, I still have the foundation of volunteerism in my profession. I strongly believe that counselling and volunteerism are quite similar, as both help people to counter the effects of stress, anger and anxiety, as well as combat depression.

A total of 185 women UN Volunteers have served with UNAMID since 2008 and UNISFA since 2012 in a multitude of fields, including medicine, health, engineering, finance, technology and supply chains. Comprising no more than 25 per cent of the total UN Volunteer workforce supporting these two missions, women have been handling challenging tasks and benefiting the communities they serve. Irene Haroub (Zimbabwe), a UN Volunteer HIV/AIDS Trainer/Counselor with UNAMID, hopes the impact of her work will benefit mothers and communities in Darfur for many years to come.

UN Peacekeeping is one of the largest United Nations partners of the UN Volunteers (UNV) programme. In 2019, more than 2,000 UN Volunteers served with UN Peacekeeping in 17 different missions around the world, contributing to protection and peacebuilding efforts and promoting volunteerism across the United Nations system.

Where are you based?

"Like everyone else, I have been watching and reading about the chaos around the world caused by COVID-19 and I really wanted to do something to help the community here fight this pandemic," reveals Catherine. "I saw that there was a shortage of face masks. I love sewing and the idea dawned on me that I could actually make some here," she adds.

Lydia Mpeh is on the frontline of the battle against COVID-19 in South Sudan. Originally from Cameroon, the UN Volunteer serves as a medical laboratory technician in the Rumbek region, using her expertise to manage the lab at a hospital operated by UNMISS.

Minsun Kim was searching through the Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs website when she stumbled upon an opportunity that well matched her qualifications and aspirations – serving as a UN Youth Volunteer in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kosovo*. Her assignment was fully funded by the Republic of Korea.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and declared state of emergency in Bosnia and Herzegovina, vulnerable children, especially unaccompanied and separated children, are at higher risk of experiencing a disruption of basic social services.

The support of UN Volunteers has been crucial for UNDP Papua New Guinea to deliver on the referendum support. Their inputs and contributions have been instrumental. UN Volunteers will continue to play a role in the post-referendum phase such as in future programmes supporting sustainable livelihoods, economic development and governance. --Dirk Wagener, UNDP Resident Representative in Papua New Guinea