The United Nations Volunteer (UNV) programme achieved unprecedented deployment numbers in 2024, with 14,631 volunteers serving across 169 countries, marking a 14% increase from 2023 and a remarkable 77% rise from pre-pandemic levels.
The surge in volunteer deployment reflects growing global needs in development, peace, and humanitarian sectors. According to UNV’s 2024 Annual Report, 13,288 volunteers came from the Global South, demonstrating strong South-South cooperation in peace and development efforts worldwide.
Women represented 59% of all UN Volunteers in 2024, a 2% increase from the previous year. The average age of volunteers was 34, with participants ranging from 18 to 79 years, showcasing the program’s commitment to intergenerational engagement.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) remained the largest partner, engaging 4,161 volunteers across 130 countries, representing 13% of UNDP’s overall workforce. These volunteers supported various initiatives, including reducing emissions from deforestation in Brazil and biodiversity conservation in India.
In conflict and post-conflict zones, 1,588 international UN Volunteers served in peacekeeping operations, while 404 supported special political missions. Their work spanned human rights protection, access to justice, violence reduction, and ex-combatant reintegration.
The program demonstrated particular strength in humanitarian response. In Ukraine, volunteers supported energy supply access, environmental protection, and reconstruction efforts. In Pakistan, they assisted with vaccine-preventable diseases and flood response across 13 districts. Through UNHCR, 973 volunteers delivered refugee protection and humanitarian action in 74 countries affected by war and conflict.
Digital engagement saw significant growth, with UN partners posting 22,962 requests for Online Volunteers – a 65% increase from 2023’s 14,025 queries. These virtual volunteers supported various initiatives, including disaster impact reduction through artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The program’s effectiveness was reflected in participant satisfaction rates, with 92% of volunteers reporting enhanced personal and professional development, and 89% expressing satisfaction with their volunteer experience – a 2% increase from 2023.
The organization provided enhanced learning opportunities, with 11,269 UN Volunteers participating in 167 learning initiatives, including workshops with 15 UN host partners across 30 countries. Nearly 6,000 volunteers engaged in competency-based self-paced learning, including language platforms and proficiency exams.
Inclusion remained a priority, with 273 UN Volunteers with disabilities deployed across 26 UN partners – a 41% increase from 2023. The top partners welcoming volunteers with disabilities were UNDP, UNICEF, UN Resident Coordinator Offices, UNFPA, and UN Women.
Looking ahead, UNV faces new funding constraints within the UN development system, requiring greater resilience and field-level engagement. The organization is preparing for the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development in 2026, which will highlight volunteerism’s role in advancing sustainable development goals.
The UN Secretary-General’s 2024 report acknowledged the program’s success in diversifying its volunteer base in terms of gender, nationality, and geographic regions. Notably, 8.7% of UN Volunteers in the Secretariat transitioned to staff roles between 2020 and 2023, demonstrating the program’s potential as a pathway to UN careers.
Read the full report here
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