United Nations Volunteers in Rwanda

Facts and figures

Background:

Since 1974, UN Volunteers have been active in Rwanda contributing to a variety of development projects, from teaching in rural communities to supporting small, medium and micro enterprises.

In 1994, however, the UN Volunteers Program   (UNV) in the country took a dramatic turn in response to the aftermath of the genocide. More than 150 UN Volunteers were involved in resettling and reintegration activities and protecting the well-being of two million returning refugees. UN Volunteers were also involved in the promotion of human rights in collaboration with the United Nations Assistance Mission to Rwanda (UNAMIR), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP).

From 1995, long-term development projects have been reestablished and humanitarian interventions continue to employ a steady number of volunteers.

The SVF project has helped in the reduction of poverty in the local communities. Through this project, more than 1000 women and men have been trained in diverse areas including; sewing, beekeeping and others.

Present:

Currently there are  volunteers;  nationals (17) and internationals (18 ) in Rwanda serving with UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP ,UNFPA, UNDP, CNLS "National aids committee",

They are:

·         providing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) support under the framework of the Cisco-Learning Academies Programme;

·         supporting other UN agencies and programmes :

-           UNFPA: 2 international volunteers. 1 as an operations officer with UNFPA) , 1 as health care officer;

-           HCR:  9 international volunteers as protection officers, field officer, field administrative officer, logistic officers, report officer, and executive assistant to the Representative.

-           UNICEF: 1 international volunteer as statistician/demographer.

-           WFP: 2 international volunteers, one as ICT officer , one as Food Education Support Officer

-           CNLS, Conseil National de Lutte contre le Sida"  17 national volunteers in Kigali and rural areas

-                      UNDP, 4 international as , one as Program Officer for UNV/Support Office at UNDP. One  as assistant to the resident coordinator , one as ICT specialist, and one in Byumba for decentralization, support to the governance program

For the  decentralization project in Byumba,  1 international and 2 nationals will be recruited in 2004 .

For CISCO  1 national as ICT assistant to the regional academy of Butare.

41 Rwandan are working abroad as UN volunteers, in Kosovo, Guinee Conakry Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leonne; East Timor, Somalia, Eritrea, Guinee Bissau, Comores, Chad, Burundi, Tajikistan,  and Afghanistan for peace and development.

Contribution to UNDP practice areas

• Governance : UNV is supporting the Rwanda Strategy for Good Governance through the Capacity Building for Decentralization Project in Byumba Province.

One UNV expert in decentralization has started his assignment in Byumba and he will be joined by three others (national and international) to serve in this project. Another one have been assigned at UNDP office to support governance unit.

• HIV/AIDS: UNV is supporting the National Committee against HIV/AIDS through a joint initiative with UNDP:

A team of 17 national UN volunteers recruited to serve in this project.

From 1999 to 2003, UNDP has supported one project in the same area, with 5 national UN volunteers. The volunteers have contributed to the success of the project, they have worked in the community development with the local population, they have also put in place financial mechanisms for the grass-roots.

A new project based on the first one has recruited 12 nationals volunteers to support  the rural areas.

• Human Rights: 9 UNVs are working with the HCR Country Office to support the mainstreaming of human rights and a rights-based approach to development. In addition to building capacity both within the UN Country Team and within government, strategy for demobilization and resettlement has been implemented.
• Information, communication technology:. 2 International volunteers help through UN agencies plan; one at UNDP, and the other at WFP.

Celebrating Volunteerism in Rwanda

Each year, the International Volunteers’ Day (5 December) is celebrated by  UNV Country Team in coordination with UNDP, the government, some NGOs, national volunteerism committee and the UN agencies. Plans are underway to use this high profile occasion, in future, to highlight the importance of volunteer contributions to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, through some press conferences and others activities.

 

Amadou Lamine DIALLO SENEGAL Programme Officer

Diane Kalikesha RWANDA Country Office Assistant