United Nations Volunteers, UNV was established in 1970 as a volunteer-based and a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly. It is an operational programme in the development cooperation of the UN system. 

The programme is administered by the UNDP.

A resource bank of candidates has been created with categories according to educational level and experience. The volunteers of UNV are well qualified, trained and experienced experts comprising 15 professional categories and with the minimum age set at 25 years. The UNV has become an important source of experienced specialist professionals for developing countries and for the UN agencies.