UNV

What is UNV?

United Nations Volunteers (UNV) is the United Nations focal point for promoting and harnessing volunteerism for effective development. UNV is a strategic source of knowledge and advice about the role and contribution of volunteerism and the benefits of civic engagement in development programmes. UNV is dedicated to using Volunteerism for Development (V4D) to make distinctive contributions to the effectiveness of development.

UNV was created by the UN General Assembly in 1971 at the request of UN Member Countries in order to be a development partner for the UN system. It is entrusted with raising awareness of volunteerism and its contribution to development, providing technical assistance to develop volunteerism, and mobilizing volunteers nationally and internationally.

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.

UNV in Kosovo -fielding UNVs and promoting Volunteerism -

The main roles of the UNV Programme in Kosovo are: 1) Fielding UNV Specialists inside and outside Kosovo, and 2) Promoting and advocating the concept of Volunteerism as a major form of civic engagement.

Since the establishment of UNV Kosovo in 1999, Kosovo has developed the largest UNV programme in the region, and the largest contingent of UNV volunteers. Whilst a large number of UNVs are working under UNMIK administration, a number of international and national UNV specialists have also been working in various UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, UNHABITAT and UNHCR).  UNVs provide technical support and cooperation alongside UN agencies in relation to community-based initiatives, in humanitarian relief, and community development works in support of human rights and peace-building processes. UNVs are professionals who work on a peer basis. They listen and discuss; teach and train; encourage and facilitate. Volunteers also share and exchange ideas, skills and experience. In addition, we send qualified nationals abroad to work as International UNV Specialists elsewhere.

The following are available statistics for the period January 2008 – March 2008 of serving UNV”s and NUNV’s.

Total number of UNV / NUNV”s 65; International UNV’s -43; National UNV’s - 23

Volunteerism for Development (V4D) – Why volunteerism matters?

UNV Kosovo has promoted and advocated Volunteerism for Development. This is a major form of civic engagement; it enhances inclusion and the participation of people in development and the mobilization of communities. UNV provides strategic advice on the role and contribution of volunteerism and options for civic engagement in development programmes which aim to improve public inclusion and participation in social, economic and political development, and support the growth of volunteerism within communities as a form of mutual self-help.

Volunteerism is a renewable and sustainable resource and, if encouraged and harnessed, volunteerism can play a significant role in national and international development planning. UNV believes that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will only be achieved through the voluntary support of millions of people worldwide.

What we do in Kosovo?

Apart from fielding UNVs elsewhere, and working closely with agencies to incorporate the concept of people participation through volunteering into our programming, UNV organizes activities in direct cooperation with the government and civil society organizations. The following activities have taken place in the past; in addition, we are open to any possible cooperation with potential partners to organize activities through which to promote Volunteerism and mobilize the potential for volunteers in communities:

IVD 2006 - together with UNMIK UNV office, we organized a roundtable discussion on Volunteerism.  Invited guests included a professor who drafted the law on volunteerism in Albania. UN agency focal points, government officials and representatives from civil society organizations discussed the current situation for volunteering and the necessity of establishing the law on Volunteerism.

World Environment Day/International Children’s Rights Day 2007 - The Country office team in cooperation with the Support Unit in UNMIK organized Kids photo contest in cooperation with UN Kosovo Team and World Vision. MDGs were widely presented among school children in different regions and awareness of environmental protection and improvement was effectively raised.

International Women’s Day 2007 - in cooperation with OSCE and local NGOs, the UNV Team (UNDP and UNMIK) supported the events organized at the national theatre and several municipalities. UNVs helped UNKT to distribute the brochures to promote women’s rights.

Youth Camp - UNV team together with UNKT supported the local NGO Global Motion to organize a youth camp in Peja where young people actively participated in discussions and team building activities. UNVs contributed as the resource persons for several discussions.

Youth Project - Through UNV implementation, several workshops and community meetings were organized in different regions where great numbers of NGOs and local governments’ officials participated in discussions on youth participation and the potential of Volunteerism as a great tool of youth civic engagement. The project will last at least for 2 years.  

How to become UNV?

UNV specialists are people with certain academic background and years of relevant experiences. They can be professionals in respective areas of specialties but they are at the same time the people who agree to be a volunteer to contribute to community development effort and provide with technical supports for agencies’ works with given conditions of services.

No matter the assignment is domestic or international; people who wish to become UN Volunteer should have good understanding why to become UNV, what UNV stands for.

If you wish to be an International UN Volunteer, please go and visit the site (www.unv.org) where you will find all information how to become, and who can become a UNV.

If you wish to be a National UNV Specialist in Kosovo, all advertisement shall be seen in public information. You should be aware that this is not for fresh graduates but for people who has certain academic background and relevant years of experience. We are looking for national experts who are willing to be a UNV to support works of agencies with own skills and knowledge under  given conditions of service.