Global volunteers are growing

According to several observers, the dream of a new frontier of international cooperation for peace, inclusive development, and justice, created 80 years ago by the United Nations Charter, would be shattered by the disruptive growth of new sovereignisms and supremacisms. In practice, national and international solidarity towards the poorest would be relegated to the back burner in foreign policy. However, I have come across some encouraging news that bucks the trend. The volunteer movement is growing strongly around the world, as demonstrated by the 2025 report of the UN Volunteers Program.

United Nations Volunteers (UNV) are making a difference: In 2024, UNV volunteers supported 59 UN programs in 169 countries. Their nationalities increased to 181 from 173 in 2021. 10,150 UNV volunteers served in their countries of origin, while 3,175 worked abroad; The majority, 13,288 UNV volunteers, came from the Global South.

In 2024, the UNV program deployed a record number of 14,631 UNV volunteers, a 14% increase from 2023 and a 77% increase from 2019, before the pandemic. UNV youth and adults served in a variety of technical and sectoral roles, including community development, medical services, human rights, information management, humanitarian assistance, and other areas of inequality reduction. Growth was strong across all continents, especially in Africa and Asia.

Volunteers from all walks of life: The average age of UNV volunteers is 34, with their ages ranging from 18 to 79. In 2024, intergenerational and lifelong volunteering was strengthened: 167 UNV volunteers were over 60 years old, while 2,166 were between 18 and 26 years old.

Online Volunteering: UN partners, Member States, and civil society organizations posted 22,962 requests for volunteers online, a significant increase of almost 65% compared to 14,025 requests in 2023. This demonstrates the UNV's recognized ability to connect with a wide range of talent available online.

Motivated and Well-Prepared Volunteers: 92% of them stated that their service led to personal and professional development. Eighty-nine percent of volunteers reported satisfaction with their experience, a 2% increase compared to 2023. 11,269 UNV volunteers participated in 167 learning initiatives, including workshops with 15 UN partners in 30 countries. Nearly 6,000 volunteers participated in self-paced skills training, including language learning and proficiency tests. UNV also launched an inter-agency coaching initiative for volunteer growth and well-being.

In 2024, the UN deployed 273 UNVs with disabilities, a 41% increase compared to 2023. The five countries with the largest numbers of UNVs with disabilities were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia, Mali, Rwanda, and Saudi Arabia.


Sandro Calvani
NP August/September 2025