Sandra Koch is Team Lead for the International Volunteer Year (IVY) 2026 at United Nations Volunteers (UNV), based at its headquarters in Bonn, Germany. UNV promotes peace and development through volunteerism, mobilizing thousands of volunteers each year to support United Nations missions and local development initiatives. With over a decade of experience in project management, governance, communications, Sandra has supported UNV’s global efforts since 2018. As Team Lead for the IVY 2026 Secretariat, she currently coordinates UNV’s outreach, advocacy, and communications efforts to make the International Year a truly global celebration, uniting people and institutions around advancing sustainable development through volunteerism. Before joining UNV, Sandra worked as an Advisor for Good Governance with an NGO in Sierra Leone, coordinating field and research projects, advocacy strategies and capacity-building activities with local communities. She holds a master’s in political science from Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz and began her career in political communications with one of Germany’s Federal State Governments and the European Parliament. Throughout her career, Sandra has been passionate about advancing gender equality and inclusion, fostering environments where diverse perspectives are valued and empowered. Sandra will be a speaker at the IVCO 2025 Closing Ceremony.
