United Nations Volunteers was created by the General Assembly in 1970 as a subsidiary organ of the United Nations to be an operational programme in development cooperation. It assigns mid-career women and men to sector and community-based development projects, humanitarian aid and the promotion of human rights and democracy.

In a single year, some 4,000 UNV specialists, field workers and national UNVs, short-term business/industry consultants and returning expatriate advisers are at work through UNDP's more than 130 country offices around the world. Two thirds are themselves citizens of developing countries. UNV reports to the Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA.

JPO Story - Johanna Dohl