Why do Member States contribute to the Special Voluntary Fund?  

• For rapid response: Swiftly deploying UN Volunteers during crises and emergencies. 
• To champion diversity and inclusion: Expanding volunteer opportunities for a diverse and inclusive United Nations. 
• To promote data-driven volunteering: Increasing global evidence and recognition of volunteering to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

What is the impact of the Special Voluntary Fund?  

For rapid response: Swiftly deploying UN Volunteers during crises and emergencies. 

In the event of emergencies, UNV can swiftly deploy UN Volunteers and support the United Nations system in responding to urgent local needs on the ground. In 2023, during the humanitarian crises in Gaza and Ukraine, UNV deployed 30 UN Volunteers, contributing to an additional 407 UN requested assignments the same year. Conflict zones such as Afghanistan and disaster-hit areas such as like Morocco and Türkiye also benefited from SVF-funded national UN Volunteers to work with communities on the ground. 

To champion diversity and inclusion: Expanding volunteer opportunities for a diverse and inclusive United Nations. 

The Special Voluntary Fund supports volunteer opportunities for persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, underrepresented nationalities, and other marginalized groups. In 2023, there were 304 persons with disabilities who served as volunteers, including 127 Online Volunteers and 187 onsite UN Volunteers. Diversity is also evident in the age range of UN Volunteers (18 to 80 years), representation from 180 nationalities, and the fact that nearly 90 per cent of UN Volunteers come from the Global South. 

The Special Voluntary Fund ensures that UNV’s Online Volunteering Service remains free of charge for both applicants looking for opportunities and organizations seeking task-based support, including UN entities, Member States, and civil society organizations.   

To promote data-driven volunteering: Expanding global evidence and recognition of volunteering to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

UNV supports the volunteer actors through knowledge on volunteerism. This also allows UNV to assist Member States in integrating volunteering into their development plans, policies and strategies. The Fund enables UNV to: 

• Develop key knowledge resources like the UN flagship publication, State of the World’s Volunteerism Report and the UNV Knowledge Portal, which provides global data and evidence on volunteerism. 
• Support Member States in integrating and recognizing volunteerism: Since 2022, UNV has assisted Zambia, Chile, Türkiye, Iraq, India, and Senegal in incorporating volunteerism into national plans and aided 15 countries in including volunteer evidence in their Voluntary National Reviews. 
• Enable the 2026 International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development: The Fund supports UNV in leading the activities, recognizing volunteers and promoting the spirit of volunteerism.  

Special Voluntary Fund contributors in 2022-2023: 

Bangladesh, China, Czechia, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and Türkiye. 

For more information, please click on the UNV Annual Report 2023 and the Special Voluntary Fund Report 2023 or contact us via email partnershipsupport@unv.org