If I can describe the work of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme in one sentence, I would say that it works for both the protection of the environment and development. Most people would think that protecting the environment is something that distracts society from developing technologies, facilities, and the making of profits. However, GEF SGP is the place where we research how to do both simultaneously.

The joint United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme Social Innovation and Volunteerism in Uzbekistan Project is harnessing the social innovation of young people to tackle development challenges. By providing training, advocacy, and grants to young innovators UNV is helping to unlock the talent and entrepreneurial skills of Uzbek youth, many of whom previously lacked opportunities to contribute to development.

“Quite simply put – the UN could not deploy, and Security Council mandates could not be delivered, without UNV.” These were the comments of Assistant Secretary-General Hubert Price of the UN Department of Field Support, speaking on behalf of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Political Affairs. Speaking at the annual session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in New York on 9 June 2016.

100 young Korean students attended the first ever United Nations Volunteer (UNV) programme-Korea Joint Forum on Volunteering for Peace and Development at the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 8 October. The Forum heard of the overwhelmingly positive contributions young people can make to international development through volunteering.

100 young Korean students attended the first ever United Nations Volunteer (UNV) programme-Korea Joint Forum on Volunteering for Peace and Development at the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 8 October. The Forum heard of the overwhelmingly positive contributions young people can make to international development through volunteering.

On Thursday July 2nd, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme Executive Coordinator, Richard Dictus, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) President, Youngmok Kim, signed the new Agreement on the United Nations University Youth Volunteer Programme, which further strengthens the collaboration between the two organizations.

Manila, Philippines: My name is Alma B. Sevillano, I am from the Philippines and I work as a UN Volunteer for the Haiyan Response and Recovery programme.  

As a UN Youth Volunteer and young woman, I am proudly working for women’s economic empowerment with UN Women in Nicaragua. My job is to support four counterparts working in the field: rural women in need of their own land, trade unionists who advocate for labour rights of domestic workers, women seeking to reform social security law, and women and men working to develop a model for good entrepreneurial practices on gender equality.

Bridgetown, Barbados: My assignment with the UNDP Sub-Regional Office for Barbados and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) as the UNV Institutional Capacity Development Officer is providing exciting opportunities to support ten programme countries in the Eastern Caribbean. As a UN Volunteer, I have started to explore options and possibilities that provide increased opportunities for non-state actors and civil society organizations to develop their networking, promotion and administrative capacities.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is partnering with the Asan Nanum Foundation (ANF) of the Republic of Korea to promote youth engagement in the achievement of human development goals.   Through this partnership, UNV and the ANF aim to positively harness the energy of UN Volunteer Interns towards the advancement of peace and development around the world, while enhancing their participation, citizenship and work-related skills.  In 2013, the Foundation will provide full funding for ten young Koreans under the UNV Internship Programme.