The prior goal of the United Nations Volunteers Program is to engage people in tackling development challenges

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS: The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program is functioning in Armenia since August 2008 the prior goal of which is to engage people in tackling development challenges. “Armenpress” spoke with the UNV Program Officer Sara Sangoi about the activity, goals and prospects of the program.

- Which are the goals of the United Nations Volunteers Program and in which directions it operates in Armenia?

- The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Created in 1971 by the UN General Assembly (resolution 2659 (XXV)) with the mandate to facilitate the integration of volunteers in development within the framework of Technical Cooperation for Development, UNV is now based in Bonn, Germany, and administered by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UNV volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

UNV is present in Armenia since August 2008 upon UNDP request, at UNDP premises. UNV renders its services at the UN Country Team level, advising on volunteerism and UNV’s distinctive contributions to development.

The primary purpose of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program is to engage people in tackling development challenges, by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. This is achieved through technical advice and capacity building such as: organizing and supporting events, roundtables and surveys on volunteerism and civic participation throughout volunteers’ involvement; matching demand/supply of volunteers and volunteer-involving organizations; through international assignments and the national UNV volunteer scheme; training and organizational advice on volunteer management and networking; securing the functioning of UNV Unit at UNDP premises as the national centre for volunteerism and volunteer activities; facilitating national efforts of integrating civic participation into development planning and strengthening networking and information exchange between national actors; linking community, local government and national policymaking levels through frequent visits to the regions.

- Which are the achievements of the program in Armenia?

We have launched the website “global Armenia”, for Armenians in the Diaspora (sept. 2008), organized field missions in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and Youth (March-April 2009), edited and published UNV promotional material (brochures, UN website, articles – April 2009), establishment of the Volunteers Involving Organizations’ network (10th of June 2009), establishment of the national UNV volunteer scheme and its steering committee (July 2009), inclusion of UNV contribution to the UNDAF (July 2009), arrival of the first international UNV volunteer (sept. 2009), hiring of the first national UNV volunteer (nov. 2009).

Each year December 5 has been declared International Day of Volunteers.

- As of today how many volunteers arrived in Armenia within the framework of the project? What activity are they carrying out and in which spheres? What results have been registered?

So far we have received 10 international UNV volunteers, and hired 5 national UNV volunteers. The international volunteers visited Armenia for 3-12 months and worked as Child Protection Associate, Community Development Specialist, Export expert, EU trade standards expert, Cheese production expert, Quality production expert, Healthy processing expert, Livelihood joint project coordinator, Forest Management Specialist, UNV PO.

National UNV volunteers also visited Armenia for 3-12 months working as UNV Program Assistant, Diaspora Communication expert - Middle east, Diaspora Communication expert – USA, Communication clerk, Protection clerk.

The volunteers offer first of all professional skills in a specific area. Moreover, they are indirectly showing a different way of work, down to the roots and very participative. This leads indirectly to an improvement of democratic governance, and social cohesion. The presence of international volunteers increase the interest foreign Countries have on Armenia, and their contribution to its development.

- In what directions will the program extend its activity in the near future?

The Program will concentrate in advocating for civic participation and broadening community mobilization, mostly in the regions of Armenia. The UNV program is mainstreaming all UN agencies’ work in Armenia, but it is presently tightly collaborating with the Community Development Project of UNDP.

The next activities will be publishing the survey “culture on volunteerism in Armenia” – June 2010, collecting data on economic value of volunteerism in Armenia (nov. 2009 – apr. 2010), publishing the survey (foreseen July 2010), Yerevan day”: cleaning up campaign in another area of Yerevan – Baladyan (June 2010), volunteerism and youth in Video – August 2010

- How to apply as national or international UNV volunteer?

To be a national or international UNV volunteer means to be contracted under the UN system. The working time is the usual one: eight hours a day, five days a week. Contracts are normally from a minimum of three months to four years. The UNV contracts provide coverage of expenses and international insurance, also for the dependents – for Armenia the monthly VLA is 60,000 and 100,000 AMD.

Applicants must be older than 21 years and having completed the high school at least – national scheme - , or older than 25 years and having at least a BAC – international scheme. They need to have a good understanding of development needs, and be committed to civic participation.

Interested to apply to the international roster: www.unvolunteers.org Interested to apply to the national roster: http://www.un.am/?laid=1&com=module&module=static&id=815.