United Nations Volunteers
Encyclopedia
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program is a United Nations
organization that advocates the role and benefits of volunteerism for development, integrates volunteers into development programmes, and mobilises volunteers for development projects. It was created to be a development partner for UN organisations by providing volunteers into their development programmes. UN Volunteers help to organize and run local and national elections and support a large number of peacekeeping and humanitarian projects. UN Volunteers comprise one third of all international civilians working in UN peacekeeping
operations.
UNV was established by the UN General Assembly and is administered by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP). Its headquarters are in Bonn
, Germany
. UNV has liaison offices in Tokyo and New York.
UNV directly mobilizes more than 7,500 people as "UN Volunteers" every year and, since starting operations in 1971, UNV has engaged more than 50,000 UN Volunteers to work onsite on a wide range of projects in developing countries. The UNV roster of candidates contains the details of more than 70,000 professionals seeking assignments. Candidates are recruited from both developed and developing countries. More than 75 percent of placed UN Volunteers come from developing countries, and more than 30 percent volunteer within their own countries (national UN Volunteers). UN Volunteers receive a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), a financial allowance intended to cover basic living expenses each month. The minimum age for UN Volunteers is 25 years. The average age is 37 years, with 5-10 years of work experience. UN Volunteers comprise 30 per cent of all international civilians engaged in UN peacekeeping missions.
In addition, UNV operates the Online Volunteering Service, a web-based platform for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN-affiliated projects serving the developing world to recruit and involve online volunteers
in various projects. The service was launched in 2000 as a part of NetAid
, which hosted and co-managed the service until 2005. To date, the UNV Online Volunteering service has more than 20,000 individuals and 2,000 development organisations registered. Online volunteers are engaged, and complete their assignments, entirely online. These volunteers are not UN Volunteers, meaning they do not receive a contract from UNV as such, and do not receive a VLA.
UNV also operates the World Volunteer Web, a web site to promote volunteerism globally. The site was originally created to support the International Year of Volunteers in 2001. UNV was the focal point for IYV 2001, and also for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers
marked in 2011.
UNV celebrates International Volunteer Day
on 5 December every year.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
organization that advocates the role and benefits of volunteerism for development, integrates volunteers into development programmes, and mobilises volunteers for development projects. It was created to be a development partner for UN organisations by providing volunteers into their development programmes. UN Volunteers help to organize and run local and national elections and support a large number of peacekeeping and humanitarian projects. UN Volunteers comprise one third of all international civilians working in UN peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operations.
UNV was established by the UN General Assembly and is administered by the United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
(UNDP). Its headquarters are in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. UNV has liaison offices in Tokyo and New York.
UNV directly mobilizes more than 7,500 people as "UN Volunteers" every year and, since starting operations in 1971, UNV has engaged more than 50,000 UN Volunteers to work onsite on a wide range of projects in developing countries. The UNV roster of candidates contains the details of more than 70,000 professionals seeking assignments. Candidates are recruited from both developed and developing countries. More than 75 percent of placed UN Volunteers come from developing countries, and more than 30 percent volunteer within their own countries (national UN Volunteers). UN Volunteers receive a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), a financial allowance intended to cover basic living expenses each month. The minimum age for UN Volunteers is 25 years. The average age is 37 years, with 5-10 years of work experience. UN Volunteers comprise 30 per cent of all international civilians engaged in UN peacekeeping missions.
In addition, UNV operates the Online Volunteering Service, a web-based platform for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN-affiliated projects serving the developing world to recruit and involve online volunteers
Virtual volunteering
Virtual volunteering is a term describing a volunteer who completes tasks, in whole or in part, off-site from the organization being assisted, using the Internet and a home, school, telecenter or work computer or other Internet-connected device. Virtual volunteering is also known as online...
in various projects. The service was launched in 2000 as a part of NetAid
NetAid
NetAid is an anti-poverty initiative. It started as a joint venture between the United Nations Development Programme and Cisco Systems. It became an independent nonprofit organization in 2001. In 2007, NetAid became a part of Mercy Corps...
, which hosted and co-managed the service until 2005. To date, the UNV Online Volunteering service has more than 20,000 individuals and 2,000 development organisations registered. Online volunteers are engaged, and complete their assignments, entirely online. These volunteers are not UN Volunteers, meaning they do not receive a contract from UNV as such, and do not receive a VLA.
UNV also operates the World Volunteer Web, a web site to promote volunteerism globally. The site was originally created to support the International Year of Volunteers in 2001. UNV was the focal point for IYV 2001, and also for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers
International Year of Volunteers Plus 10
- Background :The year 2011 is 10 years since the International Year of Volunteers in 2001. Under General Assembly Resolution 63/153 the United Nations called for this anniversary to be marked across the planet....
marked in 2011.
UNV celebrates International Volunteer Day
International Volunteer Day
International Volunteer Day - is an international observance designated by the United Nations since 1985.The declared aim of this activity is to thank the volunteers for their efforts and increase public awareness on their contribution to society...
on 5 December every year.
See also
- Peace CorpsPeace CorpsThe Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
- Voluntary Service OverseasVoluntary Service OverseasVoluntary Service Overseas is an international development charity that works through experienced volunteers living and working as equals alongside local partners. It is the largest independent volunteer-sending organization in the world...
- FredskorpsetFredskorpsetFK Norway is a Norwegian governmental body financing two-way mutual personnel exchange between companies and organisations in Norway and similar companies and organisations in the South - that is countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America....
- CUSOCUSOCUSO was founded June 6, 1961 as Canadian University Service Overseas . It was a Canadian non-profit organization that provided volunteers to aid in the development of Third World countries. In 2008, CUSO merged with VSO Canada to become CUSO-VSO...
- International Year of Volunteers Plus 10International Year of Volunteers Plus 10- Background :The year 2011 is 10 years since the International Year of Volunteers in 2001. Under General Assembly Resolution 63/153 the United Nations called for this anniversary to be marked across the planet....