LocationsThe mission is to reinforce the strategic role of UN Volunteers across the UN system and to explore avenues for enhanced collaboration in support of Mauritius' national development priorities.
UN Volunteers Executive Coordinator Leads High-Level Mission to Mauritius to Strengthen Volunteerism and Partnerships
March 16, 2026
Mr. Toily Kurbanov, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, with Heads of United Nations Agencies in Mauritius, alongside Ms. Adjoa Sika Ahawo, UNV Regional Portfolio Specialist, and Ms. Prisca Rakotomalala, Coordinator of the UNV Indian Ocean SIDS Multi‑Country Field Unit.
Stéphane Bellerose / UNDP Mauritius
Mr. Toily Kurbanov, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, is undertaking an official mission to Mauritius from 14 to 18 March 2026, reaffirming the United Nations’ commitment to promoting volunteerism and strengthening partnerships for sustainable development.
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) is the UN organization mandated to promote volunteerism and mobilize volunteers in support of peace and development worldwide. Administered by UNDP, UNV serves as a system‑wide service of the United Nations, deploying UN Volunteers to UN entities, governments, and partners, while advocating for the integration of volunteerism into development policies and programmes to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
Mr. Kurbanov has served as Executive Coordinator of UNV since January 2021. With more than 25 years of international leadership experience, including senior roles with UNDP across Asia and the Pacific, he brings extensive expertise in sustainable development, UN reform, and strategic partnerships. He is accompanied during the mission by Ms. Adjoa Sika Ahawo, UNV Regional Portfolio Specialist, and Ms. Prisca Rakotomalala, Coordinator of the UNV Indian Ocean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Multi‑Country Field Unit.
The visit coincides with the United Nations’ proclamation of 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026), officially launched on 5 December 2025. IVY 2026 recognizes volunteerism as a vital driver of sustainable development and aims to champion, integrate, and better measure volunteer contributions worldwide in support of the 2030 Agenda.
Exploring avenues of collaboration for enhanced sustainable development
The official programme of the mission commenced on Monday, 16 March, with a series of courtesy calls to Heads of United Nations Resident Agencies in Mauritius. These included meetings with Ms. Lisa Simrique Singh, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Alka Bhatia, UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Alia Hirji, IOM Chief of Mission, and Dr. Abdou Salam Gueye, WHO Representative a.i. The exchanges provided an opportunity to reflect on the strategic role of UN Volunteers across the UN system and to explore avenues for enhanced collaboration in support of national development priorities.
The mission continued with a courtesy call on Honourable Dhananjay Ramful, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, where discussions focused on key areas of cooperation between Mauritius and the United Nations, including the contribution of volunteerism to inclusive development and national initiatives.
On Tuesday, the programme features a Townhall meeting with UN Volunteers currently serving in Mauritius, offering a platform to discuss their experiences, challenges, achievements, and prospects. The delegation will afterwards be joined by representatives from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, for a site visit to Sir Anerood Jugnauth Hospital, where UN Volunteers play a key role in the technical implementation of the National E-Health initiative, supported by UNDP.
The visit of the UNV Executive Coordinator will conclude with a symbolic tree planting activity at Bras d’Eau National Park, underscoring the United Nations’ commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action. While Mr. Kurbanov concludes his mission, members of the delegation will continue engagements on Wednesday with the UNV ESARO Talent Outreach Session.
The outreach session aims to promote volunteerism and expand the UN Volunteer talent pool in Mauritius by raising awareness of UN Volunteer opportunities, providing guidance on building strong candidate profiles, and encouraging qualified Mauritian professionals to register on the Unified Volunteer Platform (UVP). The initiative also seeks to strengthen collaboration with universities, professional networks, government institutions, and civil society organizations to develop sustainable talent-sourcing partnerships.
Through this mission, UNV and UNDP reaffirm their shared commitment to harnessing volunteerism as a powerful force for sustainable development, social inclusion, and partnership building in Mauritius and across Small Island Developing States.
