A new impetus for the partnership between UNV and the Arab Federation of Voluntary Activities (AFVA)

On Thursday February 19th, Richard Dictus, the Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme welcomed the Secretary General of the Arab Federation for Voluntary Activities (AFVA) Mr Yousuf Ali AlKazim from Doha, Qatar, at UNV Headquarters in Bonn.

Mr Yousuf Ali AlKazim and Richard Dictus jointly launched the first ever Arabic version of UNV Annual Report 2013 which was made possible thanks to AFVA sponsorship. You can read the UNV Annual Report 2013 in Arabic by following this link.

Mr AlKazim and the Executive Coordinator of UNV also signed today an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AFVA and UNV, which follows on the first MoU previously signed in July 2012 under the patronage of the League of Arab States (LAS) in Cairo, Egypt.

The MoU consolidates the commitment of AFVA and UNV to remain engaged to strengthen a structured approach to volunteering in the Arab States. UNV and the AFVA share the common goal of supporting the development of volunteering in the governmental, non¬governmental and private sectors across the Arab States.

Pursuing those objectives, both parties have agreed to cooperate and, “To work together at the global, Arab regional and national levels to promote and advocate for volunteerism, integrate volunteering in development planning and mobilize volunteers as a force for development and peace (…) and work together with partners to create an enabling environment for volunteerism, to encourage the AFVA member states to contribute annually to UNV's Special Voluntary Fund (SVF), to support the development and/or strengthening of local volunteer infrastructure and networks, to build the capacity of partner organizations, to build strong volunteer programmes and to undertake joint research and share best practices and learning.”

AFVA and UNV will establish a shared work plan and a framework to enhance synergies in the areas of common interests and to jointly work for promoting Volunteerism in the Arab region and increase the engagement of Arab nationals as UN Volunteers. 

AFVA is the leading federation of Arab State representatives of volunteer-involving organizations that works through volunteers for the development and wellbeing of the Arab societies, and enjoys an independent legal status under the umbrella and patronage of the League of Arab States. Established in 2005, it comprises agencies, organizations, institutions and associations representing 18 Arab States.

Thanks to this large network among the Arab States, AFVA is a unique UNV partner for upcoming joint initiatives and collaboration in the Arab region, including Arab Volunteer Day, Arab Volunteering Award and Regional Youth Volunteering Forum.

Furthermore, UNV will extend its technical and advisory support to AFVA’s member organizations involving volunteers, including in the establishment of volunteer standards and policies, the mobilization of government resources for joint activities at the national level, and developing cost-sharing agreements.

The Federation works to achieve cooperation between voluntary agencies and organizations and aid them in their efforts in their respective areas to mobilize the creative energies of the Arab people, support and invest in the development of comprehensive Arab States, and contribute to the development of volunteerism through the capacity building and training of Arab citizens in programmes and pilot projects carried out by Arab organizations to promote volunteerism.

UNV is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide.  Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer.

UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.