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THE PRIOR GOAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM IS TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN TACKLING DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES
ARMENPRESS
JULY 21, 2010
YEREVAN
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.
From: A. Papazian
ARMENPRESS
JULY 21, 2010
YEREVAN
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.
From: A. Papazian