United Nations Volunteers (UNV) are at the heart of global change, from grassroots activism to international policy. Read how these staff members lead with resilience and collaboration.
Adjoa Sika Ahawo– Regional Portfolio Specialist for East and Southern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
Working with United Nations Volunteers (UNV) since 2012 has taken me across Southern, West, Central, and now East Africa, collaborating with young changemakers. I’ve seen volunteerism’s power firsthand—not just in creating opportunities, but in shaping leaders and strengthening communities.
Fifteen years ago, I wouldn’t have believed that the grassroots initiatives I led in Zimbabwe would spark a continent-wide movement. Fresh out of university, I organized the first COP@Home in Zimbabwe in 2011. Reporting live from COP17 in Durban to youth in Zimbabwe, I witnessed their thirst for knowledge, and that ignited my passion for ensuring young people have platforms where their voices matter.
I started as an unpaid volunteer for DRI, a climate-focused NGO in Zimbabwe. I didn’t realize then that volunteerism would shape my career, but becoming a UN Volunteer in 2012 clarified my path.
One defining experience was my first assignment with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) volunteers program, an African Development Bank-funded initiative, in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and UNV. The program created a network of young professionals supporting peace and development in West Africa. Their determination, adaptability, and commitment, even during the worst Ebola outbreak, reinforced my belief that Africa’s greatest resource is its people.
Today, as a Regional Portfolio Specialist for UNV East and Southern Africa, I champion volunteerism as a powerful force for peace and development. My role is to forge partnerships, innovate solutions, and mobilize resources. I have lead initiatives such as Africa Women Health Champions with the World Health Organization (WHO), where African women took on public health roles across 47 countries, and the Young Talent Pipeline with the United Nations Environment Programme, aimed at preparing future environmental leaders. All these initiatives show how actively engaged Africa’s youth is in creating change, not waiting for it.
The journey ahead is long but filled with promise—we are not just shaping a stronger, more resilient continent, but we are building a brighter future for all.
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Inas Taha Abbas Hamad– Regional Portfolio Specialist for the Arab States, Amman, Jordan
As a girl from Egypt, I found myself constantly reminded of the challenges of sustainable development and the role of women, in particular, in bringing about positive change. This awareness has motivated me to take over advocacy for equitable access and opportunities for all.
Over the years, I made a concerted effort to involve myself in my local community and volunteer at various development associations. These experiences allowed me to explore and enjoy different aspects of community development.
My journey took me through several United Nations offices and agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the World Bank Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa. In 2018, I joined the United Nations Volunteers Regional Office for Arab States, first as Egypt Country Coordinator and later as Regional Portfolio Specialist. Here, I engage with passionate and motivated volunteers from around the globe.
The efforts of UN Volunteers in supporting development programs are evident in numerous ways. They are present in every corner of Azraq refugee camp in Jordan, delivering services and ensuring the well-being of refugees. They are doctors, nurses, engineers, youth, and experts. You can find them in the Marine Reserve in Aqaba, diving to protect the environment, and raising awareness in Iraq about health and environmental issues. A recent highlight was COP16 in Riyadh where I worked with around 700 volunteers who brought the magnitude of such a large global conference to fruition. Inspiration in action—that’s how I would coin it!
The Arab States have witnessed massive destruction in the past year alone and UN Volunteers actively supported United Nations operations in crisis contexts in Gaza and the West Bank, Yemen, and Sudan. The spirit of volunteerism remains unbroken, even in the face of war.
I am incredibly proud of every volunteer and confident that volunteerism can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. My passion drives me to see this through, and the efforts of these volunteers will lead to the future I have long worked for and awaited.
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Tapiwa Kamuruko – Chief of Volunteer Advisory Services, UNV Headquarters, Germany
I never set out with a grand plan to work for the United Nations. My journey began with a simple belief: development is about people, and real change happens when communities are empowered to shape their own futures.
My career started in Zimbabwe, working in civil society and then with the government as a National Coordinator for a population information, education, and communication program funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This role laid the foundation for my work in international development, eventually leading me to Uganda, where I joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as an international Volunteer. This role made me truly value the power of volunteerism in effecting change.
After several roles, my transition to Regional Manager for East and Southern Africa in 2014 marked a new chapter. Tasked with setting up a regional office from scratch, I recruited a dedicated team, established crucial networks, and strengthened UNV’s presence within regional UN entities and government offices. This decentralization brought UNV’s services closer to the people it served, reinforcing the UN’s grassroots impact.
In my current role as Chief of the Volunteer Advisory Services Section at UNV Headquarters, my primary responsibility is the strategic promotion of volunteerism as a core development asset.
My work involves generating evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of volunteerism in sustainable development, integrating volunteerism into national and UN strategic documents, and advocating for its inclusion in national development policies and strategies.
A significant part of my role includes leading the preparation of the flagship State of the World’s Volunteerism Report, which provides critical insights into global volunteering trends. Currently, I am leading an ambitious project aimed at standardizing the measurement of volunteer contributions through the development of a global volunteer index.
The legacy I hope to leave is a consolidated, evidence-based understanding of volunteerism’s scale and impact. I want to see it move beyond anecdotal appreciation to being recognized as a measurable, strategic force in development. The establishment of a global volunteer
index is a step in that direction—one that will enable policymakers, governments, and development practitioners to assess and harness volunteerism’s power effectively.
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Bisam Gyawali – Partnerships Development Specialist (UN System – Europe), UNV New York Office in Germany
In our professional lives, we all face highs and lows. For me, the drive to test, try, and keep believing has fueled my journey through challenges and successes.
At the young age of 23, I began as a UN Volunteer for youth engagement at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nepal. Over two years, my eagerness to learn and confidence in my abilities led to many achievements. I helped the Country Office develop its first Youth Strategy, collaborating with stakeholders like the Ministry of Youth and Sports. By 2019, I became a national staff member at UNDP Nepal, serving as Head of Experimentation, embracing trial and error.
In 2021 during the challenging pandemic era, I became Country Coordinator for the UNV Nepal Office, leading partnerships for mobilizing UN Volunteers. Mid-2023 marked a new chapter as I joined UNV Headquarters in Bonn, focusing on partnerships—leaving my home country Nepal behind.
As Partnerships Development Specialist, I manage partnerships with UN headquarters in Europe to mobilize UN Volunteers. While partnerships are often fun, they are rarely straightforward. Working with UN partners in Europe, I’ve learned about their missions—from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)’s protection of refugees and stateless people to the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s assistance to migrants and internally displaced populations.
Elements such as communication, coordination, and negotiation are crucial in forming partnerships. However, what truly drove me was UNV’s philosophy of prioritizing the ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ of our partners, along with the meaningful mandate of our UN partners. Beyond learning from our partners, I have actively listened to their needs and proposed talent solutions.
In today’s evolving international development context and global conflicts, volunteerism is more crucial than ever and stands as a beacon of hope. UNV can’t do it alone; solution-driven collaborations with our partners are essential. Despite life’s uncertainties, I am confident that the UN’s resilience and optimism will drive us to fulfill our mission and create a brighter future for all.
At UNV, we believe in the power of volunteerism to drive sustainable progress. By working together with our partners, we can build a world where every community is empowered, and every voice is heard.