UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEER

Focal Points of Contact for UNMIS UNV:

  • Samuel Clifford Eyambe, UNV Support Officer
    eyambe@un.org
A message from Jan Pronk, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan, welcoming the UN Volunteers in UNMIS:

"Dear Colleagues,

I am happy to welcome the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme in Sudan. The programme is the volunteer arm of the United Nations and was created by the UN General Assembly in 1970 to serve as an operation partner in development cooperation at the request of UN member states.

Since 1992, more than 7,000 UNV recruited and fielded by the UNV programme have served in 19 different peacekeeping operations, peace building/peace making operations, electoral assistance activities and have worked with various UN agencies/funds/programmes. They take up assignments in over 175 professional categories.

Currently there are 28 internal and 1 national UNV serving in UNMIS as Human Rights Observers, GIS Specialists and Medical Staff, and the number will soon increase to 151 international and 57 nationals. They will also serve in areas such as Civil Affairs, DDR, RRR, Public Information, Protection, Gender, and HIV/AIDS.

I personally have great respect for the UNV programme and for the UNV who embrace the spirit of volunteerism. In fact volunteering is an expression of support for a principle that strikes to the heart of the UN system: that by working together, we can make the world a better place for everyone. Volunteering and UN programmes empower individuals, build solidarity, encourage participation and protect the vulnerable against economic, social and political marginalization.

Once again, I extend my welcome to the UNV and thank you for your support of the peace process in the Sudan. As such you will continue to have my full support."

United Nations Volunteers 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.

UNV is based in Bonn, Germany, and is active in more than 140 countries. It is represented worldwide through the offices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). UNV reports to the UNDP Executive Board which helps to ensure that UNV remains responsive to the evolving needs of programme countries.

UNV is a trusted development partner because it respects each country’s control over its own future while bringing countries together to work on shared challenges.

To learn more about Volunteering in the United Nations and how to become a UNV, visit www.unv.org