By sending national United Nations Volunteers (UNV) in six target communities in Croatian post-war regions, the project aimed to improve the quality of life of population at risk of social exclusion (elderly, and provide social services that lack in these disadvantaged areas, mostly remote rural areas. The leading assumption was that through volunteerism and self-help programmes, deprived communities would increase their ownership of and skills for development schemes for meeting their needs. The evaluation took place during March 2009, i.e. the last month of the original project timeframe, totalling 20 consultancy days, including 10 days of field research. Key lessons learnt: 1. Volunteerism makes up for instrumental deficits in social and human capital that are hindering development of deprived areas. New ties between citizens in need and existent institutional and community-based social services were created by the NUNV volunteer's engagement. Volunteerism also permitted to reshape the institutional system and to better respond to the citizens' needs; as opposed to the prevalent expectation that citizens should adjust to the system's requirements. UNDP Croatia should stimulate policy discussion about more systematic support for voluntary work in the Republic of Croatia in order to enhance in-country mobility and activation of human capital in deprived regions. 2. The innovative approach of recruiting NUNV volunteers who themselves come from disadvantaged social groups in post-war communities served social inclusion. All of them have improved their skills, gained work experience and new contacts. 3. An internal mid-term review of prospects of sustainability should become standard monitoring procedure in similar projects in the future. Nevertheless, the good timing of this evaluation, taking place prior to the completion of all project activities is an indicator of commitment on part of UNV and UNDP Croatia to invest additional thought, energy and f