Currently, nearly 70 per cent are citizens of developing countries while the remaining 30 per cent come from the industrialized world. They are professionals who work on a peer basis. Volunteers also share and exchange ideas, skills and experience. Agriculture, health and education feature prominently, as do human rights promotion, information and communication technology, community development, vocational training, industry and population. Over the years, they have served in about 140 countries.
Half work outside capital cities, frequently in remote towns and villages.
This is in response to expressed needs, and it reflects the commitment which volunteers bring. Included here are the field workers serving at the grassroots level in Asia, the Pacific and Africa. At the request of some governments UNV itself acts as executing agent. Other significant sources include the regular programme budgets of UN agencies, contributions from host governments, special purpose grants by donor governments, and the UNV Special Voluntary Fund. Read about the UNV Executive Coordinator, Sharon Capeling-Alakija .