In the aftermath of conflicts or natural disasters, people often need assistance from the international community. The United Nations is there to help get the aid flowing and to enable recovery and rehabilitation. UN Volunteers play a key part in delivering this assistance, and often at the front line.

Price swings represent a major threat to food security in developing countries. Hardest-hit are the poor. According to the World Bank, in 2010-2011 rising food costs pushed nearly 70 million people into extreme poverty. This year’s World Food Day theme “Food prices – from crisis to stability” has been chosen to shed some light on this trend and what can be done to mitigate its impact on the most vulnerable. The following three examples show how online volunteers contributed to the activities of development organizations working in the area of food and agriculture.