Amman, Aug. 16 (Petra) — The Ministry of Youth was officially
appointed as Jordan’s National Focal Point for the United Nations
Volunteers (UNV) program to mark the 2026 International Year of
Volunteers for Sustainable Development and promote volunteering as a
key avenue for youth empowerment and community engagement.

According to a ministry statement Sunday, Minister of Youth Raed
Adwan said the appointment reflects the “prominent” role of Jordan’s
volunteering activities and follows the attention and follow-up of
Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II on the volunteering
portfolio.

Adwan cited Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II Award for
Voluntary Work, the Volunteering Charter, and ministry programs under
its institutional and strategic plans, including Al Hussein Work and
Construction Camps and other volunteer programs that provide young
people with opportunities for community participation and leadership
development.

Commenting on the achievement, Adwan said the designation offers an
opportunity to highlight Jordan’s volunteering experience
internationally, strengthen cooperation with the UN Volunteers
program, exchange expertise and experiences, and contribute to
developing volunteer programs and initiatives.

UN Volunteers National Coordinator in Jordan Noor Al-Hakim said
volunteering is a “driving force for sustainable” development, with
volunteers supporting communities, strengthening social cohesion and
responding to local challenges.

She said the UN Volunteers office looks forward to working with the
Ministry of Youth and national partners to highlight Jordanian
achievements in volunteering during the International Year of
Volunteers.

Nada Belhassen, regional coordinator for the 2026 International Year
of Volunteers in the Arab States region, said Jordan was among 54
countries that co-sponsored UN General Assembly Resolution 78/127
declaring 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable
Development, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting
volunteering.

Under the designation, the ministry will lead the formation of a
national committee, comprising representatives of public
institutions, national organizations, the private sector and civil
society.

The committee will coordinate national efforts and prepare an
integrated program of events and initiatives for the International
Year of Volunteers, promote a culture of volunteering, highlight
volunteers’ contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals and
build cross-sector partnerships to support the sustainability of
volunteer initiatives.

The ministry will also monitor and document volunteer activities and
register national initiatives through the International Year of
Volunteers’ online knowledge portal, with the aim of highlighting
Jordan’s experience in organizing volunteer work and exchanging
expertise with member states.

The process will culminate in a national report documenting the
outcomes of the celebrations and lessons learned.

The UN General Assembly designated 2026 as the International Year of
Volunteers for Sustainable Development to recognize volunteers’
contributions to sustainable development at the global and national
levels and strengthen their role as key partners in addressing
development challenges and advancing social progress.

//Petra// NQ