Background

Administered by UNDP, The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) was established in 1971 by the UN General Assembly as a development partner for UN organizations. UNV is the focal point for volunteerism within the UN system.

UNV is guided by the concept of Volunteerism for Development (V4D). The success and sustainability of development rests on the effective engagement of volunteers. Achieving the Millennium Development Goals, for example, will require the collective effort of millions of people through voluntary effort, and their integration into development programmes.

UNV advocates the role and benefits of volunteerism for development, integrates volunteerism into development planning, and mobilizes volunteers in support of development programmes.

UNV directly mobilises more than 7,500 UNV volunteers every year nationally and internationally. For instance, more than 90 Rwandans are working abroad as UN Volunteers, in Kosovo, Guinea Conakry, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Somalia, Eritrea, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, Chad, Burundi, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Liberia, Haiti, Mauritius, Central African Republic, Mauritania, Liberia, Sudan, Ethiopia and Afghanistan for peace and development.

In fact, more than 75% of UNV volunteers come from developing countries, and more than 40% volunteer within their own countries.

UNV pursues distinctive contributions to effective development, including improved access to opportunities and services and better delivery of services, greater inclusion and participation, and mobilizing communities.

To achieve its goals UNV works with a range of partners, including United Nations institutions, governments, private sector companies, and civil society organizations. Key to its success is the willingness of people to volunteer their time, expertise and knowledge for the common good. Volunteerism is a natural instinct and has long been part of the social fabric in most communities.

UNV also operates the Online Volunteering service, which connects development organisations directly with thousands of online volunteers who can provide services and advice over the internet.

UNV in Rwanda

Since 1974, UNV Programme has been active in Rwanda. The program contributed to a variety of development projects, from teaching in rural communities to supporting small, medium and micro enterprises.

In 1994, the UNV Programme in Rwanda played a leading role in response to the aftermath of the genocide. More than 150 UN Volunteers were involved in resettlement and reintegration activities, protecting the well being of two million returning refugees. UN Volunteers were also involved in the promotion of human rights in collaboration with the United Nations Assistance Mission to Rwanda (UNAMIR), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP).

From 1995, long-term development projects resumed and humanitarian interventions continue to employ a steady number of volunteers. The UNV SVF project assisting local communities in the reduction of poverty ended in June 2002. Through this project, more than 1000 women and men were trained in diverse areas including: sewing, baking and in other fields for income generating activities.

Volunteers in Rwanda

In 2008 (September), 49 UNV’s Serve in Rwanda. They are assigned in UN agencies and government and 24% of them are female.

UNHCR: 11 (7 international and 4 national) volunteers serve in the field of protection, administration, logistics, and reporting and information technology

WFP: 3 international as HIV/AIDS program officer, data base, logistic; CNLS (Conseil National de Lutte contre le Sida): 30 national volunteers are based in Kigali and other provinces to assist provincial units of HIV/AIDS prevention in training and sensitization activities; UNFPA; 1 international as ICT manager; UNDP : 4 International UNVs are working as: UNV Program Officer, Energy Specialist, Justice programme analyst, physicians. 

Contacts in Rwanda

Programmes Assistant:
Diane Kalikesha ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Phone:

Useful links:

1. The UN Volunteers Global Website: http://www.unv.org/
2. To learn more about a UNV Volunteer and to apply : www.unv.org/how-to-volunteer
3. Another source of information about opportunities to volunteer is the world Volunteer Web run by UN Volunteers: http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/
4. The Online Volunteering service connects development organizations and volunteers over the Internet and supports their effective online collaboration: http://www.onlinevolunteering.org/