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UNV Mission Statement
"Volunteering brings benefits to both society at large
and the individual volunteer. It makes important contributions,
economically as well as socially. It contributes to a more cohesive
society by building trust and reciprocity among citizens.
The United Nations Volunteers is the UN organization that supports
sustainable human development globally through the promotion
of volunteerism, including the mobilization of volunteers. It
serves the causes of peace and development through enhancing
opportunities for participation by all peoples. It is universal,
inclusive and embraces volunteer action in all its diversity.
It values free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity,
which are the foundations of volunteerism."
UN Volunteers Programme
Based in Bonn, Germany, UNV is the volunteer arm of the UN system
supporting peace, relief and development initiatives in nearly
150 countries. Created by the UN General Assembly in 1970 and
administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
UNV works through UNDP country offices to mobilize experienced
specialists as volunteers -- two-thirds of them from developing
countries -- and promote the ideals of volunteerism around the
world.
Every year some 5,000 UN Volunteers from more than 150 different
nationalities actively support the programmes of the United
Nations itself as well as to specialized agencies, non-governmental
organizations, community-based organizations, and host governments
The Volunteers
UN Volunteers serving in development projects have at least
five years of professional experience. They offer a broad range
of expertise, including administration, agriculture, communication,
community development, commerce, education, engineering, environment,
health, human settlements, information & communication technology,
logistics, media and social sciences.
United Nations Volunteers (UNVs) are qualified, experienced
and committed men and women who are specialists in their field.
The average UNV is 40 years old and has worked in his/her field
for some ten years. All UNVs hold relevant academic credentials.
In practice, the age of UNVs span from the late 20s to the 60s
and even the 70s.
There are three major groupings of UNVs:
UN Volunteers Specialists
International UN Volunteers who are professional development
workers with an academic background and at least five years
of professional experience in a broad range of expertise.
National UN Volunteers Specialists
Specialists who serve in their own country. They are qualified
with a university degree or equivalent and at least five years
of experience in their field of competence. They work in close
collaboration with the village or local communities and extend
support to community based initiatives, networking, bridging
and exchange
National UN Volunteers Field Workers
The field workers serve in their own country at district or
community level within the framework of government development
programmes or NGOs. UN Volunteers Field Workers have several
years of experience with grassroots groups or organizations
and are highly skilled in participatory approaches and techniques.
Their key role is to enhance social capital and community-based
organisations and facilitate partnerships with development and
decentralisation programmes.
Cambodia
In Cambodia, more than 1,000 UN Volunteers from 46 different
countries have served since 1992 to assist in the development
efforts, making it one of the largest UN Volunteer Programmes
in Asia. During the 1993 UN-sponsored election, a total of 744
UNVs were assigned to the country in a wide variety of assignments,
including 465 as District Electoral Supervisors working to ensure
free and fair elections. Since that time, UNVs have worked throughout
Cambodia, contributing actively to the rebuilding of society.
UNV contributions are varied as can be seen in the support given
by our current volunteers in the field, including: strengthening
democracy, promoting human rights work; strengthening health
systems, work on agricultural projects, revival of traditional
non-formal education, vocational training/employment creation,
and coordinated efforts against HIV/AIDS.
As of mid-2003, 38 UNVs are serving in the country. They come
from 17 different nations and include 10 National UNVs.
UNVs in service by development Sector
as of July 2003:
For further information on the global UN Volunteers programme,
please visit the UNV Headquarters
Website.
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