Volunteerism knows no boundaries. This is even more true in an interconnected world and is particularly true for Pakistani nationals who serve as UN Volunteers abroad transcending geographical borders to make a meaningful impact in diverse communities around the globe.
Over the past five years, 80 Pakistanis served as international UN Volunteers in 30 countries with 25 UN partners. As of March this year, 47 of them are taking charge of advancing the Sustainable Development Goals in 21 countries and territories. They embody the spirit of compassion, empathy, and global citizenship. Their selfless service not only brings positive change to communities but also serves as a testament to the power of collaboration and shared humanity. As these individuals continue to bridge borders through their efforts, they contribute to a more interconnected and compassionate world.
In honour of Pakistan National Day, we share the outstanding stories of three of them on behalf of all: Fiza Mazhar, an international UN Volunteer serving as Programme Support with UNDP in Timor-Leste, Hina Javed, Associate Human Resource Officer with the World Health Organization in Hungary, and Muhammad Masood Shah serving with UNHCR in Ethiopia.
Pakistani nationals serving UN Volunteers serving abroad bring a wealth of skills, and expertise varying from knowledge management, public information, medical field, human resources management, disaster relief efforts to engineering. During their assignments, they also transfer their knowledge to local communities and empower them.
Responding to natural disasters
Fiza Mazhar (34) was a part of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) humanitarian response in Pakistan when one of the world's deadliest floods hit the country in 2022. As a Humanitarian and Resilience Officer based in Islamabad, she contributed to flood-resilient projects, providing agriculture and livestock support in Balochistan and Sindh districts. Based on such experience, Fiza joined the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Timor Leste as an international UN Volunteer, Programme Support Officer. Her duties involve working on a project funded by the Green Climate Fund which aims to safeguard vulnerable communities and their physical assets from climate-induced disasters such as floods, landslides, erosion, and droughts. She also supports the development of a climate risk information system, and the construction of 130 units of climate-smart small-scale rural infrastructure including rural roads, irrigation systems, water supply, and flood protection.
Fiza builds the capacities of 175,840 direct beneficiaries on policies related to catchment management through an eco-based approach. “Although I worked on multiple projects with the United Nations and other international organizations in the past, the spirit of giving back to society and helping people in need motivated me to become a UN Volunteer.” -- Fiza Mazhar, international UN Volunteer, Programme Support Officer with UNDP Timor-Leste.
Reflecting on her volunteering experience abroad, Fiza finds gratitude in being able to contribute to the community and playing a significant role in people’s development.
Despite staying away from home, experiencing cultural differences and language barrier challenges, a smile from the beneficiaries, recognition from the people in the community, and a note of heartfelt thanks coming from them is a strong motivation.
At the frontline for emergency response
Hina Javed (43) joined the World Health Organization Headquarters in Budapest, Hungary in September 2023 as an Associate HR Officer, bringing vast experience in Human Resource Management during the crisis to the organization. During the ongoing war in Ukraine, she supported the WHO office in Ukraine, contributing to the World Health Organization’s emergency recruitment of additional and specialized personnel. Javed supported the emergency hiring of WHO’s personnel who delivered essential medical supplies to those affected, life-saving trauma, and emergency health care, strengthening primary health care, and supporting resilience, preparedness, and early recovery.
Being a UN Volunteer has been a starting point for me to expand my horizons, and understand the United Nations system work globally especially how it steps in to support people in need during a crisis and other vulnerable communities.-- Hina Javed, international UN Volunteer, Associate Human Resource Officer with WHO Hungary.
In the wake of adversities, Javed maintained her motivation by “Staying upbeat, social, and taking care of herself.”
Her words to other Pakistani nationals and interested individuals from across the globe is “The UNV platform is for you if you are enthusiastic, willing to seek new challenges, and have the spirit to serve a cause that has real impacts for communities.”
Bolstering data management in the humanitarian context
An information and data management enthusiast, which spans over 10 years, Muhammad Masood Shah joined the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ethiopia in July 2023 with prior experience working in humanitarian settings with IRC, Save the Children, GIZ, and WHO.
A deep commitment to the betterment of humanity and a belief in the transformative power of volunteerism on a global scale motivated him to apply for a volunteering assignment within the United Nations.
As a UN Volunteer, celebrating Pakistan National Day takes on a broader perspective. It becomes an opportunity to share Pakistan's vibrant culture, history, and global contributions. My goal is to foster understanding, respect, and admiration for Pakistan's heritage and values among my international colleagues and the communities we work with. -- Muhammad Masood Shah, international UN Volunteer with UNHCR in Ethiopia.
As an Information and Data Management Officer, Muhammad contributes to devising and streamlining data analysis solutions that facilitate informed decision-making with UNHCR. “To support fundraising efforts, I developed visually compelling infographics tailored to reflect the needs of the Refugees/Host communities to inform and captivate the interest of potential donors.”
As part of this work, he was also engaged in a participatory assessment with refugee and host populations to discern their needs and preferences. Muhammad goes beyond his routine responsibilities. He is an integral member of the Digital Change Maker Lab programme, a pilot capacity-building initiative designed to empower 70 UNHCR personnel with the skillsets and knowledge required to integrate digital approaches into their daily work. The programme will enhance UNHCR's capacity to implement its Digital Transformation Strategy, allowing its more than 20,739 staff, to get real-time updates on its administrative instruction, rules, and regulations, instead of relying on search or manual processes like emailing, calling, or visiting relevant departments to get the information needed.
With six years to the Agenda 2030, I believe that in addressing the current stagnation of most SDGs, it is crucial to leverage innovative approaches grounded in data-driven insights and digital solutions. -- Commented Muhammad.
He asserts that volunteering gave him valuable hands-on experience in his area of interest.
“Seeing the tangible impact of my efforts, such as enabling easier access to historical and current records and witnessing the organization's enhanced capacity to leverage digital tools for data management and analysis is immensely rewarding.” Concluded Muhammad.
Motivated by a deep sense of empathy and with a desire to contribute to the greater good, these individuals carry the UN flag with pride as they bring Pakistani expertise to humanitarian efforts, peace and development, and various forms of international assistance.
