The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Olivier Adam, Executive Coordinator of UNV, and Mr Jorge Chediek, UNOSSC Director and Envoy of the Secretary-General on South-South Cooperation.
UNV and the UN Office for South South Cooperation sign a Memorandum of Understanding
Building capacity for sustainable peace in Malawi
To resolve conflict, Malawi has relied on a constitutional commitment to using non-violent means and the application of traditional conflict management mechanisms such as negotiation. Since independence in 1964, Malawi has relied on traditional means of dispute resolutions which served Malawi reasonably well and the country has maintained relative peace and prosperity. In more recent years, however, the country has witnessed a growing trend of rising conflict and the increasing fragility of peace. Grievances over widespread poverty, unemployment and social inequalities have manifested in outbreaks of violence. Without political consensus on reform priorities, efforts to resolve differences through negotiation and traditional methods have fallen short and Malawi’s long-term stability is under threat.
The Government of Malawi has responded to this challenge by seeking to institutionalize a mechanism for sustainable peace through a National Peace Architecture (NPA).
Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the NPA is a national initiative that will provide an institutionalised platform for proactive collaborative dialogue, peace building and conflict prevention in Malawi.
UN Volunteer advances new technologies for food security in Eastern Africa
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving and changing lives by delivering food assistance and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. WFP’s Regional Bureau Nairobi, Kenya (RBN) provides support to eight countries in the Eastern Africa region as of 2018; namely Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda. This region accommodates several challenges of displacement and hunger caused by prolonged conflict, political instability, economic collapse, seasonal droughts and floods and active terrorism. Some 23 million people have been facing severe food insecurity in the area, resulting in the profound need for extensive humanitarian assistance.
Takako Kaneda (Japan) serves as a UN Volunteer Logistics Officer with WFP under the Human Resource Development Programme for Peacebuilding and Development. Dedicated to project and information management, HRD-UN Volunteer Takako Kaneda provided technical support to those WFP country offices in the Eastern Africa, including the most volatile countries Somalia and South Sudan.
From where I stand: “It’s men who can convince other men about women’s rights”
Albert Mirindi is a UN Volunteer currently based in the Mali office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Hailing from the Democratic Republic of Congo. he serves as a Gender Specialist/Gender Advisor on a project supported by the Peacebuilding Fund, working to build resilient communities in Mali by ensuring that women are drivers of peace and decision-makers.
In Mali, there are many armed groups which have an impact on the lives of women. The project that I work on fosters economic and social empowerment of young women and men to help them regain some stability and social cohesion.
40,000 young people trained as volunteers in preparation for the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima
The Pan American Games are considered the third largest sporting event in the world, behind only the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. This will be the first time in history that Peru will host the competition, with close to 10,000 athletes from 41 national sports teams across the American continent competing in 39 sports and 62 disciplines. The competitions will take place from 26 July to 11 August 2019 (Pan American Games) and from 23 August to 1 September 2019 (Parapan American Games) in various venues: Lima (Metropolitan and province), Callao and Ica.
40,000 young people trained as volunteers in preparation for the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima
The Pan American Games are considered the third largest sporting event in the world, behind only the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. This will be the first time in history that Peru will host the competition, with close to 10,000 athletes from 41 national sports teams across the American continent competing in 39 sports and 62 disciplines. The competitions will take place from 26 July to 11 August 2019 (Pan American Games) and from 23 August to 1 September 2019 (Parapan American Games) in various venues: Lima (Metropolitan and province), Callao and Ica.
West and Central Africa launch SWVR 2018 and celebrate IVD
Prior to the official launch of the State of the world's Volunteerism Report 2018, the UNV regional office for West and Central Africa conducted a media campaign to share the observations and results of the SWVR Report 2018 and talk about the celebration of the IVD with the populations in Senegal and West and Central Africa. The UNV programme was invited to talk about both events in the BBC, West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR), Radio China International and two national radio stations (I-Radio and Trade Point FM)
West and Central Africa launch SWVR 2018 and celebrate IVD
Prior to the official launch of the State of the world's Volunteerism Report 2018, the UNV regional office for West and Central Africa conducted a media campaign to share the observations and results of the SWVR Report 2018 and talk about the celebration of the IVD with the populations in Senegal and West and Central Africa. The UNV programme was invited to talk about both events in the BBC, West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR), Radio China International and two national radio stations (I-Radio and Trade Point FM)
Serving in South Sudan: first impressions of a Ghanaian UN Volunteer
Gideon Sackitey (Ghana) had been looking forward to working abroad. "Out of the blue came this wonderful opportunity to volunteer in South Sudan – a nation with a chequered history, but with such huge potential," he says. A few months into his assignment, he shares his first impressions, also of his first celebrations of International Volunteer Day.
It was all joy in August 2018 when I received an email that I had been selected as a United Nations Volunteer; I would be serving as a Public Information Officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The excitement was palpable!
I had been looking forward to working abroad and then out of the blue came this wonderful opportunity to volunteer in South Sudan – a nation with a chequered history, but with such huge potential. I didn’t expect it to be so sudden.
Immediately, I started reading about the country, the geopolitical nuances, and my role.
Deep-seated aversion to conflict, violence and exclusion drove me to volunteer for peace
Preselected by cinfo, the Swiss Center for Information, Counselling and Training for Professions relating to International Cooperation, for a UN Youth Volunteer position funded by the Swiss Government, Sabina Stein started her first professional field experience two years ago. Now working as an Associate Political Affairs Officer for the United Nations in New York, Sabina shares her feelings and experiences as a UN Youth Volunteer for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Colombia.
What motivated you to work in international cooperation?