In what has become an annual event, the Government of Germany and the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF) held a gathering in Berlin to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, honouring the contribution of German peacekeepers around the world in the presence of more than 200 invitees.

Shaping a sustainable future in the light of volunteering was the message of the evening as Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Ban Ki-moon and other dignitaries gathered at the World Conference Center on March 8th to celebrate the 20th anniversary of UN in Bonn.

United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme Executive Coordinator, Richard Dictus, and the Head of the UN Division from the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Simon Koppers, engaged in a strategic partner dialogue, with the aim of strengthening collaboration and exploring further partnering opportunities, in particular in the context of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In a video message to all personnel of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, UNV Executive Coordinator Richard Dictus announced new Conditions of Service for international UN Volunteers that will take effect as of 1 March 2015.  The Conditions of Service form the legal foundation of the relationship between UNV and the UN Volunteer.

“The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has so far claimed over 5,000 lives in the three most affected countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. While the death and suffering caused by Ebola is immediate and must be stopped, the socio-economic impact of the disease will last long after Ebola has been brought under control,” says Gina Casar, UNDP Associate Administrator.  “UNDP is leading on early recovery efforts, and supporting nationally-led efforts to address the crisis.”

For most of the attendees, including UNV staff present, the highlight of the UNV Partnerships Forum 2014 was the session on the first day called Inspiration in Action – Blue Room Talks.  Eight UN Volunteers from across the globe took center stage to share their stories and provide inspiring insight into their assignments, and the difference they are making within communities every day.

During its first Partnerships Forum, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme signed a new cost sharing agreement with Kwansei Gakuin University (KGU) of Japan. In this new agreement, Kwansei Gakuin University pledges to support UNV’s activities in Japan. This Agreement was signed by Professor Takahiro Shinyo, the Vice President of KGU.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and the African Union Commission (AUC) today signed a project document on enhancing the African Union Youth Volunteer Corps for peace and development in Africa. The project is based on the previous understanding where both organizations committed to harmonizing efforts to promote volunteering as a catalyst for advancing socio-economic development.

The German Federal President, Joachim Gauck, made history on 12 September by being the first German head of state to visit the United Nations (UN) Campus in Bonn. During his visit, Federal President Gauck honoured the work of the United Nations shortly before the 40th anniversary of Germany’s admission to the world organization. Both German states, the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, joined the United Nations on 18 September 1973.

Two photographs by UN Volunteer Igor Rugwiza (Burundi), Public Information Officer with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) are featured in the art exhibition Arte Suste Mobile in Hamburg until 30 October 2013. The exhibition is an official project of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) that seeks to mobilize the educational resources of the world to create a more sustainable future. The theme for 2013 is sustainable traffic, mobility and transport.