Research shows that the world population has been growing older for decades and today is more aged than ever. By 2070, it's expected that 20 percent of people will be aged 65 or older. However, this increase won't be the same everywhere. In regions like Eastern Asia, the share of older people will rise to over 40 percent, while in sub-Saharan Africa, it will stay below 20 percent.
UNV releases new research on volunteer work among older persons
Don't simply count women, make women count
A native of Libya, Amera Markous is a UN Volunteer serving with UN Women. Seeing how disproportionately crises and displacement affect women more than men, Amera took it upon herself to do something for women, and she chose to do so through volunteering. She is a lead researcher on migration issues. But it's her trainer role that gives her that leeway to interact with women who are facing challenges in Libya.
Following the 2011 revolution in Libya, Amera got an opportunity to coordinate educational programmes for underprivileged children in Tripoli. She then took up a UN Volunteer assignment with UN Women.
"Reflections on my volunteer path from Germany to Kenya"
Alexandra Rank is a German UN Volunteer currently serving as a Digital Monitoring and Reporting Officer with the Communications Division at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi. Her journey with the United Nations began in 2021 through the Carlo Schmid Programme. This followed UN Volunteer assignments in 2022 as a Youth Volunteer and then in a Specialist role in 2024. With a background in journalism and a deep commitment to environmental communication, Alexandra reflects on the path that brought her to Nairobi and the insights gained along the way.
"I have always been drawn to investigative research—understanding what’s happening in the world and exploring the political landscape. I feel most connected at the intersection of communication, journalism, and environmental issues. My awareness of the environmental injustices began after high school, when I volunteered with a local NGO in Uganda through Weltwärts, a programme supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)," shares Alexandra.
Scaling up health interventions in Türkiye
On World Health Day, we recognize the contributions of UN Volunteers who raise awareness about Sustainable Development Goal 3. One of them is Daisy Lanvers, a Health Economic Analyst with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Istanbul Regional Hub located in Türkiye. Daisy focuses on how diseases impact the health and economy of countries, and also how investing in health benefits everyone, both in terms of well-being and financial sustainability.
Daisy is from France. She discovered UNV while at university, and after graduating, she started a UN Volunteer assignment as a Health Economics Analyst for UNDP’s HIV and Health unit.
Going beyond short-term health solutions in West Africa
World Health Day is a reminder that every child deserves access to quality healthcare, nutritious food, and a safe environment to grow and thrive. Championing the health of our future generation are UN Volunteers, Alec Mkwamba and Milamedinar Vaz in Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe. Through their assignments, Alec and Milamedinar make sure communities have electronic health records and training on malnutrition so everyone across the board can benefit from life-saving care. Let's take a deeper look into what they do for good health and well-being in their communities.
Before Alec Mkwamba joined the Ministry of Health in São Tomé and Príncipe, immunization records existed only on paper. Lost vaccine cards meant missed doses, leaving many children unprotected. As an Epidemiologist and Project Manager with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Alec led efforts to transition the health information system to digital platforms, certifying that the children’s vaccination histories were accessible no matter where they received care.
UNV notes steady progress in web accessibility
Since reporting in April 2024 on making web applications accessible for persons with disabilities, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) has improved its web application accessibility for persons with disabilities by conducting comprehensive testing and aiming to achieve WCAG 2.1 Level AA certification. This initiative involved gathering user feedback, manual accessibility testing, and training to create more inclusive digital environments that enable everyone to participate fully.
In 2024, UNV worked with a specialized accessibility testing company to thoroughly test IT systems. Detailed reports highlighted necessary changes that have been implemented, preparing UNV to validate these changes and aim for the next level of accessibility certification.
The goal for 2025 is to have UNV systems certified as fully compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA.