Kenya

International Volunteers Day - December 5

International Volunteers Day was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1985 to highlight the invaluable contribution of volunteers in out communities worldwide. Since then, governments, the UN System and civil society organizations have successfully joined Volunteers around the world to celebrate this Day.In Kenya, the International Volunteers Day was celebrated on Monday 5 December 2005 from 2:30 to 5:30 pm at Conference Room 1 UN Gigiri complex.

The topics for discussion were around the theme “Volunteering to promote awareness and achievement of the MDGs in the community”. This theme was selected based on the need to increase local knowledge about the MDGs and engage the community in volunteer activities to achieve the MDGs.

Press release International Day for Volunteers , brochure on UNV -Kenya,

Distribution of United Nations Volunteers in Kenya

The United Nations Volunteers is the UN organisation that supports human development globally through the promotion of volunteerism and mobilisation of volunteers. It was established in 1971 by the General Assembly to promote south-south cooperation. UNVs are recruited to enhance the effort of UN, government and community groups in fostering peace and improving living conditions. The programme in Kenya was launched in mid –70s with a national component introduced in 1996.

There are currently sixty one serving UN volunteers in Kenya. Fourteen international and fifty national specialists. Most of them are supporting UNDP programmes. As the Kenyan Government executes the majority of these programmes, UN volunteers are providing valuable expertise and support to the national executing implementing agencies. Indeed, support is being provided to a number of agencies and ministries from the Office of the President, the Ministry of Finance, the NEPAD Secretariat, National Aids Control Council to the Ministry of Planning and National Development.

Contribution to UNDP practice areas

Empowerment unit:

Twenty three national and international UN volunteers are currently supporting the democratic governance programme. They are working with communities and local leaders as capacity builders and intermediary at district level, in legal policy and institutional reforms, decentralisation and local governance and gender and promotion of legal rights.

Enhanced security unit:

Thirteen national UN volunteers are working within this programme. They work with the National AIDS Control Council (NACC) focusing on strengthening legal and ethical frameworks, mainstream HIV/AIDS activities in key development sectors; and in partnership with Government and local leaders; they are assisting the programme in managing conflicts among pastoralist communities.

Strategic outreach unit:

Two national UN volunteers based in the Ministry of Planning and National Development support the MDGs programme. They provide technical, administrative and logistical support to the focal point office in the Government.

Sustainability unit:

Seven national UN volunteers are attached to the sustainability unit. Five of them will support the implementation of the Central Kenya Dry Area Project to help target communities improve their livelihoods.