"There is no way to peace, peace is the way"

Ia Sakaadze, UN Volunteer Air Operations Assistant
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During 2018, 579 UN Volunteers, 34 per cent of them women, supported the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which supports the youngest nation in the world. One of these volunteers is Ia Saakadze from Georgia, who has served as an international UN Volunteer Air Operations Assistant with UNMISS since April 2014. Here, Ia shares her experience as a woman in peacekeeping in a volatile working environment.

In my youth, I often volunteered with orphanages and animal rescue organizations in my country. Although I felt that I could and should do more to help build a better world, I didn’t know where to start. This was until I delved into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

I then realized that what I wanted was a volunteer assignment within the United Nations system, particularly in a place where I could advocate for equality, respect for diversity and peace and development. I applied for a UNV assignment and was accepted as an Air Operations Assistant with UNMISS.

Advocating for health and safety with the World Health Organization in Azerbaijan

Fanara Bunyadzada, national UN Volunteer with WHO
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The World Health Organization (WHO) established its country office in Azerbaijan in June 2004. Currently, WHO is working closely with national partners, engaging in policy dialogue, providing strategic support and technical assistance, as well as supporting the government of Azerbaijan in their efforts to improve health financing and immunization coverage, prevent and treat tuberculosis, manage health emergencies, and prevent antimicrobial resistance.

Fanara Bunyadzada, national UN Youth Volunteer, joined the WHO Communications team in Azerbaijan at the beginning of this year, motivated by her belief that "volunteering is the best way to make a positive impact in the society," and by her desire to help people to be more aware about health-related issues.

In Pakistan, 157 UN Volunteers with WHO conduct a large-scale measles vaccination campaign

UNV partnering with WHO
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In 2018, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme partnered with World Health Organization (WHO) to support the Measles Supplementary Immunization Activities in Pakistan. Within two weeks, 157 national UN Volunteers were mobilized and deployed across the country to support WHO and the Government of Pakistan to conduct surveys for the monitoring of the measles campaign.

As part of the Expanded Programme on Immunization a nationwide measles follow-up vaccination campaign was conducted from 15-27 Oct 2018 by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSRC) and the Government of Pakistan.

WHO provided the technical assistance to respective provincial health departments and district health management teams. The objective of the campaign was to vaccinate children from six-months to five years with one dose of measles vaccine, irrespective of their previous vaccination status and illness.

UN Volunteers with WHO lead efforts to stop disease outbreaks in Africa

UNV partnering with WHO
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From its regional office in Brazzaville, the World Health Organization (WHO) can count on the presence and the engagement of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in addressing health emergencies and outbreaks in Congo and 46 country offices in Africa. In June 2018, the two organizations deepened their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding signed to facilitate the deployment of UN Volunteers to WHO offices in the field.

Stronger partnership

UN Volunteers have operated through various assignments in the health sector with WHO, since the beginning of the partnership in 1973. The engagement of UN Volunteers in WHO health programmes has increased steadily since then, as a result of UN Volunteers’ professional input to the preparation and implementation of emergency response plans to disease outbreaks, such as Ebola in West Africa, which remains a threat.

UNV Deputy Executive Coordinator salutes Member States for reflecting on the role of volunteers in sustainable development

Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Madame President,
Ladies and gentlemen,

UNV is a shared UN service hosted and administered by UNDP. Every year we enable thousands of global citizens to contribute to peace and development serving as UN Volunteers across the globe. I am taking the floor to share with the Conference two reflections and two acclamations.

UNV Deputy Executive Coordinator salutes Member States for reflecting on the role of volunteers in sustainable development

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Madame President,
Ladies and gentlemen,

UNV is a shared UN service hosted and administered by UNDP. Every year we enable thousands of global citizens to contribute to peace and development serving as UN Volunteers across the globe. I am taking the floor to share with the Conference two reflections and two acclamations.

Delivering community-owned water and sanitation solutions in Eritrea with UNICEF

Bipin Jha, UN Volunteer WASH Officer, Eritrea
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In Eritrea, arid and semi-arid conditions and persistent drought present challenges in providing appropriate and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. This is particularly true for vulnerable communities and groups, such as female-headed households. UN Volunteer Bipin Jha (Nepal) is a WASH Officer with UNICEF working on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. He shares how he contributes through his assignment to enhancing the lives of children and women in the country.

According to UNICEF-WHO Joint Monitoring Programme data from 2015, only 16 per cent of the population in Eritrea have access to basic sanitation facilities and 76 per cent  practice open defecation.

I support my team in achieving SDG 6 through planning and monitoring of programme activities and enhancing the capacity of government partners to enhance their monitoring and reporting.

UNV Executive Coordinator discusses partnership opportunities with President of Zanzibar

Dar es Salaam, United Kingdom of Tanzania
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With a population of over 50 million people and borders with eight different countries – it’s safe to say the United Republic of Tanzania is an important player in the East African region.

The United Nations plays a significant role in Tanzania, with 23 UN agencies working closely with the government to implement development and humanitarian activities – including the hosting of over 300,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.

UNV Executive Coordinator discusses partnership opportunities with President of Zanzibar

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With a population of over 50 million people and borders with eight different countries – it’s safe to say the United Republic of Tanzania is an important player in the East African region.

The United Nations plays a significant role in Tanzania, with 23 UN agencies working closely with the government to implement development and humanitarian activities – including the hosting of over 300,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.

Curating a sustainable educational structure using ICT strategies in schools across the African Union

Marcela Krejci, former UN Youth Volunteer in Ethiopia
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Marcela Krejci (Czech Republic) supported the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Ethiopia as a UN Youth Volunteer specializing in education from 2017-2018. Contributing her previous experience and knowledge in school management, Marcela helped UNESCO's International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) develop educational solutions based on ICT strategies from the grassroots level. Here, she shares reflections on her volunteering experience contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 4, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

My time serving as a UN Youth Volunteer in Education for a year, between February 2017 to February 2018, was a great learning experience. Due to my proactive attitude, I participated in an array of activities that were instrumental to my contribution to the efforts of UNESCO IICBA in building a sustainable educational framework using ICT for schools in Ethiopia and other countries in the African Union.

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