UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEERS

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the volunteer arm of the United Nations. Created by the UN General Assembly in 1970 to serve as an operational partner in development cooperation at the request of UN member states, it supports human development globally by promoting volunteerism and by mobilizing volunteers. It operates amidst growing recognition that volunteerism makes important contributions, economically and socially, to more cohesive societies by building trust and reciprocity among citizens. It also encourages people to become active in volunteering in their countries. UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and works through UNDP's country offices around the world.

Some 5,000 qualified and experienced women and men of nearly 160 nationalities are serving each year in developing countries as UN Volunteers. Since 1971, some 30,000 UN Volunteers have worked in about 140 countries. Currently, nearly 70 per cent are citizens of developing countries while the remaining 30 per cent come from the industrialized world.

UN Volunteers work in technical cooperation with governments, with community-based initiatives, in humanitarian relief and rehabilitation and in support of human rights, electoral and peace-building processes. They 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.

UN Volunteers were first deployed to work in the Philippines in 1981. The majority of some 100 volunteers who have been hosted here have been in the UNV Domestic Development Service (DDS) Field Workers. They have served in every region of the Philippines, mostly in rural areas with local governments and NGOs. Principally experienced in the fields of agriculture and appropriate technology, these Field Workers have nevertheless focused their know-how in the promotion of self-reliance at the grassroots level.

Currently in active service in the Philippines are 4 International Volunteer Specialists and nearly 40 National UNVs, working in peace and development advocacy under the GOP-UN Multi-Donor Programme (MDP3), in environmental advocacy and protection, in business-community relations, and in indigenous peoples' capacity building.

Since the Philippines first joined the UNV Programme in 1972, the country has consistently been one of the largest suppliers of volunteers. During 1999 and 2000 Filipinos constituted the largest number of volunteers serving abroad, having been surpassed only in 2001 by Italy and India. Filipinos are notably found to have strong mobilization skills - a volunteer profile considered to be essential for effective and enduring development actions.

CONTACT US:

Address:
UNVolunteers
29th Floor, Yuchengco Tower
RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City, Philippines

Tel. No.: (632) 889-7550
Fax No.: (632) 901-04-54

International Web Site: www.unv.org
Local Web Site: www.unv-ph.org

E-mail: unvgroup.ph@undp.org

Sandra Romero Ruiz
Programme Officer
Email: sandra.romero@undp.org

Lilia Capalad
Country Operations Assistant
Email: lily.capalad@undp.org