United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. They are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and their wide range of partners. UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all their activities, they encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women. Volunteers with UNDP assist in facilitating the implementation and monitoring of the UNDP Transition Programme for the conflict Affected Areas, in addition, to acting as field coordinators and monitoring and reporting officers and Human rights officers for UNDP field Offices.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.In more than five decades, the agency has helped an estimated 50 million people restart their lives. Today, a staff of around 6,540 people in 116 countries continues to help 19.2 million persons.By assisting refugees to return to their own country or to settle in another country, UNHCR also seeks lasting solutions to their plight.

Within UNHCR the UN Volunteers provide support and assistance in facilitating the reintegration and rehabilitation of returnees and IDPs. UN volunteers also provide support to UNHCR in the areas of protection, advocacy, emergency preparedness, logistics and administration. As it is now UNV provides support to UNHCR FO in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Puttalam, Tricomalee, Killinochchi and Batticaloa. It is expected that under the proposed new structure of UNHCR, UN Volunteers Programme will be requested to provide additional assistance for the new satellite offices. UNV has also provided support through a technical consultant to regularize UNHCR's vehicle fleet.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. It is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children. UNICEF mobilizes political will and material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a "first call for children" and to build their capacity to form appropriate policies and deliver services for children and their families and it is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children - victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation and those with disabilities.

Volunteers working in UNICEF provide support towards special assistance programmes for children and women affected by armed conflict, human rights investigations, demobilization and reintegration of child soldier, psychosocial counseling, back to school and early childhood development.

World Food Programme (WFP)

In 1994, WFP became the first United Nations organization to adopt a mission statement.
As the food aid arm of the UN, WFP uses its food to meet emergency needs and support economic & social development. The Agency also provides the logistics support necessary to get food aid to the right people at the right time and in the right place. WFP works to put hunger at the centre of the international agenda, promoting policies, strategies and operations that directly benefit the poor and hungry.

WFP helps Victims of natural disasters, Displaced People and The world's hungry poor. It also believes that women are the first solution to hunger and poverty. WFP is the world's largest international food aid organization combating hunger in underdeveloped nations with severe food shortages. The frontline stretches from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East to Latin America and Asia & the Pacific. WFP stands on a permanent state of alert, ready to mobilize food aid for delivery to natural and man-made disaster areas. Its rapid response team draws-up contingency plans designed to move food and humanitarian aid fast into disaster areas. WFP works closely with the other members of the UN family, governments and NGOs, offering its logistics expertise to guarantee the delivery of all kinds of humanitarian aid.

Volunteers in WFP act as head of the field-Office as well as in coordinating the food for work and school feeding programmes with IDPs.

World Health Organisation (WHO)  

The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. It was established on 7 April 1948. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Volunteers working in WHO help with Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation.