UNV East and Southern Africa

11/06/2026

Mobilizing volunteers at all life stages.

In 2025, 248 UN Volunteers were aged 60 years and above, bringing experience and specialized skills to United Nations operations. Younger volunteers formed a larger group, with 2,712 aged 18–24, reflecting UNV’s focus on youth engagement.

UNV's Annual Report is now live: https://www.unv.org/annual-report/annual-report-2025

09/06/2026

“You don’t have to start big. Follow your values, show up, listen, try.”

This is what Eulalia, UN Volunteer with UNFPA in does every day of her work.In rural Mozambique, through initiatives like the Global Program to End Child Marriage, she is working with UNFPA Mozambique to , one girl at a time.

From school reintegration to youth mentorship, she connects systems with communities. 💜

"As a UN Volunteer, I often do not feel like I work, rather, I often say that I contribute. Because every day I am reminded that change starts where people are. And that everyone, including the girls we serve, deserves the chance not just to survive, but to thrive," she says.

08/06/2026

A billion people. A billion choices to serve.

In a world facing climate shocks and inequality, the decision to give time and skills remains a powerful expression of hope.

The photobook highlights leaders whose journeys began with service, as UN Volunteers, community activists, and individuals determined to make a difference.

Discover their stories and find your inspiration here:https://www.unv.org/sites/default/files/Journeys%20of%20Inspiration%20Photobook.pdf

06/06/2026

Across Mozambique, UNICEF Mozambique and UNV East and Southern Africa are bringing support closer to children and communities affected by climate shocks, displacement, and other crises.

Through UN Volunteers the partnership strengthens outreach and helps children survive, learn, and thrive.

06/06/2026

04/06/2026

We know volunteerism contributes to peace and development.

But how can volunteer data help shape better policies and decisions?

This question is at the heart of the final session of the Global Webinar Series. Join the UNV, Northumbria University, the Northumbria Centre for Global Development and partners to explore how volunteer measurement can support policy-makers and practitioners, and what challenges still need to be addressed.

📅 Thursday, 18 June 2026
⏰ 1pm–2.15pm CET
🔗 Register here: https://undp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-vIlh3nySU2q597hRDkGQw?_x_zm_rtaid=QRExz3lpTqOnbhjD5CSoZQ.1779272324305.8a338065bcae88dbfed3315c64e6d762&_x_zm_rhtaid=122 #/registration

02/06/2026

“Aim for the sky. You may not touch it, but you’ll soar far beyond the treetops.”
That message to younger UN Volunteers is not just words Peter Luhanga shares, it reflects how he continues to live in practice.

At 64, Peter has returned to the United Nations Development Programme - UNDP office in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where his journey first began in 1990, where he also played a role in supporting UN Volunteers across the country.

Drawn back to the work that shaped his life, he returned as a UN Volunteer Finance Associate, witnessing the organization's transformation from typewriters to today’s digital systems; AI.

Peter’s journey reflects how experience remains a driving force in development work — growing stronger through change, and staying active through continuous service and contribution.

Take a look at his story: https://www.unv.org/story/typewriters-ai-bold-return-undp-retiree and consider what stepping into service, contribution or purpose could look like for you: https://www.unv.org/

Peter is busy in his office handling multiple sheets of paper with graphs and tables. A hand-sized calculator is placed at an angle, making it easy to guess its frequent usage. Peter, with a lifetime UN career behind him, has embarked on a new chapter. October marks his fourth month as a UN Voluntee...

01/06/2026

In Zimbabwe, 34% of girls are married before they reach age 18. Recent data shows that for young girls in remote areas, especially those with disabilities, the distance to a clinic or police station means they cannot access the help or protection they need.

To bring help directly to these communities, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and United Nations Development Programme - UNDP Zimbabwe launched a mobile One-Stop Centre. This moving support hub travels to remote districts like Mbire, bringing doctors, legal aid, and official registration services directly to survivors of gender-based violence.

Valentine Gwerevende, Communications Assistant with UNDP, travels to document this critical infrastructure in action. She records the stories of women getting the help they need, like mothers finally securing birth certificates that allow their children to go to school. Through her work, Valentine shows that bringing services directly to rural communities is one of the most effective ways to protect women and girls.

Read more: https://www.unv.org/Success-stories/where-strength-lives-mbires-story-words-volunteer

I recently travelled to Mbire with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zimbabwe communications team. As a UN Volunteer, my job was to help tell the stories of women and families we met. We were documenting the impact of a One-stop Centre provided by UNDP in collaboration with the Zimbabw...

30/05/2026

Need weekend reading? 📚

The 2025 Annual Report is packed with stories and results from around the world.

They are just one click away 🔗https://www.unv.org/annual-report/annual-report-2025 -volunteerism-becomes-the-uns-frontline

29/05/2026

United Nations missions move forward thanks to committed volunteers who build peace one conversation at a time.

In 2025, more than 500 UN Volunteers served on the frontlines of peace, development, and humanitarian efforts in East and Southern Africa. One of them is Matiisetso Jeannet, Public Information Officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Her role is critical: "I help people understand each other before misunderstanding turns into violence."By fostering dialogue and preventing conflict at the grassroots level, Matiisetso and her colleagues provide the essential foundation for lasting peace.

Read more:

South Sudan is still learning how to live after years of conflict. UNMISS supports that fragile process—protecting civilians, enabling humanitarian access, advancing human rights, supporting political dialogue, and helping prepare the ground for elections. My work lives inside that reality, not ou...