The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide.
Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation.
UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN Volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.
Based in Bonn, Germany, UNV is active in around 130 countries every year. It is represented worldwide through the offices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and reports to the UNDP Executive Board.
If you are interested in becoming a UN Volunteer or joining our Online Volunteering service, please register at www.unv.org.
UN Volunteers in Kosovo
Over a thousand UN Volunteers have served in UNMIK since the beginning of the Mission in 1999. Currently, there are approximately 24 UN Volunteers deployed in UNMIK, coming from all regions of the world.
In Kosovo, UN Volunteers' responsibilities range from writing press releases, providing political briefings, providing legal assistance, actively engaging in community initiatives, troubleshooting IT issues, and treating injuries. All UN Volunteers help UNMIK implement its mandate in municipalities across Kosovo.
UN Volunteers were first deployed to Kosovo in 1999, when a peacekeeping mission was established after more than a decade of conflict and months of airstrikes. In the years that followed, thousands of UN Volunteers dedicated their time, skills and energy to helping the people of Kosovo rebuild their lives.
We don't just talk about it, we do it. UN Volunteers go beyond their official duties at UNMIK to help local communities. We launch awareness campaigns on key issues such as environmental protection, hold fundraising events and collaborate with local NGOs.
Every 5 December, we also celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD) by organizing a series of activities through close cooperation with UNDP UNV and local volunteer groups, and all staff members are invited to participate.