SDG 1: No poverty, SDG 2: Zero hunger, SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities, SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 14: Life below water, SDG 15: Life on land, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
The first regional Report of its kind – VCARE showcases the evolution of volunteering practices and the impact of volunteer efforts, emphasizes the value of volunteers' contributions, and identifies best practices in the region's volunteer movement.
The Report’s findings offer diverse examples of volunteer actions that can help to fast track the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the region's five countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
11 July 2024
Global, Europe and the CIS
Article
SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Xiaerbati was part of a team that provided vocational training and entrepreneurship opportunities to women from rural areas in Qinghai Province. These opportunities made it easy to access renewable energy, boosting agricultural productivity and mitigating climate change.
“Volunteerism plays a pivotal role in fostering long-term economic empowerment of women by creating sustainable support systems and fostering community resilience,” says Xiaerbati.
29 May 2024
Asia and the Pacific
Success stories
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Following the adoption of the Global Compact on Refugees by the UN General Assembly in 2018, and in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UNV launched a special initiative to facilitate the deployment of people of concern with UNHCR as Refugee UN Volunteers. This enables them to engage in an income generating opportunity which also assists them in building on their competencies and skills.
19 June 2022
Arab States
Success stories
SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Natalie Ismail is a UN Youth Volunteer serving as Youth Engagement and Water Scarcity Support Officer with UNICEF Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, based in Amman, Jordan. She is the focal point for participatory action research in the region. Through this role, Natalie raises awareness and builds the capacity of young people for climate-related issues.
04 March 2022
Arab States
Success stories
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
When I reflect on my life, I realize that my upbringing in a rural area largely shaped my decision to become a UN Volunteer. Growing up in Guruve, a rural community north of Harare, Zimbabwe, gave me an excellent grounding in local issues and a true understanding of the poverty and social exclusion that people in under-served communities suffer. Although rural life was difficult, it had several redeeming qualities.
15 October 2021
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Since we can't reduce what we don't know, my first activity was to identify the different sources of emissions and then to calculate the quantity of greenhouse gases that UNDP emits."
Larissa identified electricity as the main source of emissions and developed a prioritized and concrete action plan. She organized awareness sessions for the staff to adopt environmentally-responsible practices to reverse the trend.
07 June 2021
West and Central Africa
Success stories
SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
UNDP advertised for the Young Environmental Journalists via the Online Volunteering platform of UNV, offering young leaders and environmental and human rights advocates worldwide an opportunity to join the programme. Following a rigorous selection process, 71 young talents were selected to work together in 2019, while 100 young talents from 27 countries participated in the 2020 edition of the campaign.
05 June 2021
Global
Success stories
SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
Senior UN Volunteers are not common – the average global age of UN Volunteers is 32 – but the Haddows can attest to the many benefits their presence brings both to the missions they serve, and to themselves as older volunteers. Rather than spending their retirement years in quiet relaxation, the Haddows, both from the United Kingdom, chose to share their lifetime of expertise as UN Volunteers with United Nations missions.
24 October 2020
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
To contain the spread of COVID-19, the government of Uganda started lockdown restrictions, limiting movement and livelihood activities. Previously, the refugees sourced firewood for cooking from host communities. The majority of the refugees did not have access to any renewable energy sources and relied heavily on low-quality fuels, resulting in higher air pollution, and a greater risk of respiratory tract infections and eye diseases, among other negative implications.
24 June 2020
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Ronald Cumberbatch is an international UN Volunteer from Guyana, serving as an Energy and Environment Specialist with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Liberia. He has been supporting the Good Grow Partnership (GGP) programme for almost 3 years.
Launched in 2017, the GGP programme is aimed at reducing deforestation caused by mass production of global key commodities. It also focuses on facilitating strong supply chains and creating an enabling environment in support of sustainable production.
04 June 2020
West and Central Africa
Success stories