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.   

Louise brings more than 20 years’ experience of leadership in multilateral development cooperation combined with deep knowledge and passion for low-carbon, sustainable and inclusive economic development, human rights, elections, and local governance, as well as digitalization. She currently works as the Senior Regional Advisor on Green Transformation at the United Nations Development Programme Istanbul Regional Hub and served as UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic from 2019-2023.

The high-level gathering convened more than 450 onsite participants and more than 3000 online viewers. They included representatives from the Government, UN partners, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Volunteer Involved Organizations, academia, influencers, and volunteers who came together to recognize the spirit of volunteerism in shaping a better world.

Marco Nardo, an Italian UN Volunteer who has been serving with UNHCR in Colombia for eight months, had the chance to join the Commemoration of World Refugee Day in Mocoa, his duty station, located in the south of the country.  He serves as Associate Protection Officer, mainly in charge of persons in need of international protection.

SEE THE UNV HISTORY IN FULLSCREEN

SEE THE UNV HISTORY IN FULLSCREEN

Kigali, Rwanda: In cooperation with 22 other African countries, the One UN in Rwanda held consultations in order to formulate a nationally owned post-2015 development agenda. The objective of the consultations was to stimulate an inclusive, bottom-up debate on the post-2015 development agenda. The idea was thus to facilitate a visioning process, which is based on people’s experiences and ideas for the future of the world they want to live in.