United Nations Volunteers

Introductory Statement at the Executive Board Annual Session

June 6, 2019

Mr. President, 

Distinguished Members of the Executive Board,

I am pleased to introduce the session presenting the Administrator’s Report on the United Nations Volunteers, for 2018, the first year of the new Strategic Framework for 2018-2021. I would like to first highlight some of the elements of the report and the close relationship between UNDP and UNV.

This report is the first one following the Executive Board’s decision in 2018 to have UNV report on an annual basis, rather than on a biennial basis. Therefore, it presents the results of UNV in 2018 – the first year of its new Strategic Framework for 2018-2021. 

The report highlights the importance of volunteerism as a powerful tool for governments and UN partners worldwide, including UNDP, to realize Agenda 2030, as further affirmed by General Assembly resolution 73/140 of 17 December 2018 on volunteering for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in which the Assembly welcomed the integration of volunteerism into all relevant issues considered at the United Nations. 

UNDP is proud to host the UN Volunteers programme, one of the first common services of the UN system, and acknowledges the contributions UN Volunteers make to UNDP’s strategic priorities and delivery on our strategic plan. As its largest partner, in 2018, some 2,286 UN Volunteers supported UNDP-led activities, including 137 Volunteers serving in Resident Coordinator Offices, prior to the de-linking from UNDP.

2018 was also the year in which UNV published its triennial flagship publication The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report: The Thread that Binds – Volunteerism and Community Resilience, which presents important new evidence on the roles of volunteerism in strengthening community resilience, voice and inclusion in the 2030 Agenda. 

With its new Strategic Framework for 2018-2021 and the successful completion of its major organizational transformation, UNV has positioned itself as an agile organization which provides easily accessible services that are tailored to its partners’ needs. UNV is also enhancing its adaptability in light of ongoing UN reforms. Furthermore, the expected results of its ongoing digital transformation promise to make UNV an even more effective and efficient organization.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the more than 7,200 on-site and 16,000 online UN Volunteers mobilized in 2018. These UN Volunteers contributed to the strategic objectives of UNDP, other UN entities, as well as UN missions, often serving in challenging and remote locations and post-conflict situations. My gratitude also goes out to the staff of UNV, who, even when faced with significant changes, have delivered outstanding results.

Thank you.