This Memorandum of Understanding marks a significant milestone for the partnership between the two organizations, as it sets the legal and operational framework for future collaboration. UNV will continue to support UN Women in achieving its strategic priorities through the deployment of volunteer talent and by utilizing volunteerism. This will enable UN Women to build local capacities, engage with grassroots communities and civil society, and involve women and youth in its development interventions.
UNV and UN Women sign Memorandum of Understanding to propel global partnership to new heights
Kindness amidst a pandemic: inspiration from Kenya's urban informal settlements
Seven volunteers from Kazakhstan join the UN under the fully funded programme
Acting together to end poverty in China
No longer silent: empowering women and girls for prosperity
As a Communications Associate for UN Women in Uganda, I document the impact and success stories and lessons learned from activities supported by UN Women. This involves conducting interviews and collating success stories from different stakeholders, beneficiaries, and partners on ending violence against women and girls. UN Women in Uganda actively engages lawmakers, police, civil society in bringing about transformative impact for the lives of women and girls.
Through my work, I tell the stories of these transformative changes in the lives of women and girls.
What does it actually mean to "move towards more people-centred solutions"?
Tragedies have the particular distinction of steering us back to basic and fundamental truths. As COVID-19 has humbled the world, transformed every aspect of our lives, and exacerbated existing challenges, it has also shown us indomitable resilience and moving displays of civic virtue. Demonstrations of solidarity have confirmed that consideration towards one another invariably work, affirming that goodwill is ultimately far more contagious than the novel virus[1].
In reflecting on people-centred solutions, whether to confront the cumulative impacts of the pandemic, or its indispensability in the fulfillment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we realize how elusive, yet fundamental stakeholder participation is. How does one establish lasting mechanisms to encourage and consolidate civic engagement? How does one engender a culture of common purpose towards a unifying goal, whether to fulfill national priorities or global aspirations? In this context, volunteerism, in all its different forms is one of the most effective means to deliver people-centred solutions and abide by our development agenda’s tenet: "of the people, by the people and for the people".
So, what does “move towards more people-centered solutions” mean in practice? The answer is surprisingly straightforward. It resides in the opportunities created for citizens to meaningfully engage in the issues affecting them. The more engagement is secured, the more impactful will development initiatives be. From this perspective, volunteering is perhaps the greatest and most underutilized asset in development assistance today.
Acting together: removing barriers to speaking about mental health
Mental health is one of the most significant pillars of a person’s wellbeing, and yet it is not a popular topic of discussion. This is especially true in the Asia-Pacific region. However, talking about mental wellbeing is important now – more than ever.
As a result of COVID-19, many people have experienced changes in their mental and physical wellbeing, due to isolation, restrictions and unexpected situations resulting from this unpreceded crisis. I have seen this happening in the Asia-Pacific region among UN Volunteers, colleagues and peers, especially those living away from their families and loved ones, who may have been more affected by this situation than others.
The pursuit of two UN Expert Volunteers to restore dignity and hope to vulnerable border communities in Venezuela
Bárbara Tineo Toro and Solana Simao are dedicated to protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights while simultaneously engaging and empowering others to become agents of change in their own communities. The two UN Expert Volunteers epitomize the spirit of volunteerism, demonstrating its power to share and sustain hope and its immense significance in tackling the most pressing issues on global, national and local levels. They serve with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
The shadow pandemic of violence against women and girls is one of these issues. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about one in three women worldwide have suffered physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lives. The scourge of gender-based violence (GBV), one of the most ubiquitous human rights violations in the world, is exacerbated during the COVID-19 crisis as traditional prevention and attention mechanisms are inhibited.
UNV-Sweden partnership poised to deliver strong results
UNV and Sida have been partnering in support of peace, humanitarian and sustainable development for many years. In 2018, they renewed their partnership, in line with Sida’s Strategy for Capacity Development, Partnerships and Methods Supporting Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, (2018-2022). One of the objectives of this strategy is to broaden the Swedish resource base for implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Deploying 1,000 volunteers to promote behaviour change for COVID-19 prevention in Sierra Leone
The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Sierra Leone at the end of March 2020 and immediately the UN Development Programme country office switched into response mode. International UN Volunteer Helen Mayelle from Uganda represented UNDP in the Risk Communication and Social Mobilization pillar of the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre (NaCOVERC). Helen was selected based on her assignment in communications, and also her previous experience during the Ebola emergency.
Acting as a UNDP representative, Helen co-led the Community Engagement sub-group of the pillar and was tasked to do a rapid assessment of community engagement needs, gaps and challenges.
There were two essential things we could do: support the health care system to address cases and enhance risk communication and community engagement to help slow down and reduce the spread of the disease. --Dr Samuel Doe, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Sierra Leone