Volunteers Stakeholder Group thematic position paper to the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) 2026: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions through volunteering for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all
The United Nations declared 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026), signaling renewed global recognition of volunteering as a critical driver of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This milestone highlights the transformative role of volunteers in advancing the SDGs and underscores the need to strengthen the systems and partnerships that enable volunteer action to thrive.
The 2.1 billion volunteers worldwide remain too often invisible, undervalued, and under-resourced, despite their central role in supporting communities and responding to crises. In humanitarian contexts, volunteers frequently operate on the frontlines of risk, sometimes facing threats and inadequate protection, while in many other settings they continue to work without safe conditions or institutional support.
At the same time, critical gaps in data and evidence limit our ability to fully understand, measure, and invest in the impact of volunteering. National and local ecosystems that sustain volunteer action are often fragmented, under-coordinated, and insufficiently financed. In many countries, volunteering still lacks strong policy recognition, legal protection, and clear standards — and where frameworks do exist, implementation remains inconsistent.
Volunteering has its greatest impact when volunteers are recognised, supported, and safeguarded. Governments, civil society, donors, the private sector, and volunteers themselves all share responsibility for building the enabling conditions in which volunteer action can flourish.
Our Call to Action to Member States and all stakeholders is to help build this enabling environment for the future of volunteering by:
- Recognizing volunteering as a strategic asset for sustainable development;
- Supporting volunteer action through sustained investment, coordination, and professional standards; and
- Safeguarding volunteers to ensure their safety, well-being, dignity, and rights.
Good practice and strong evidence are essential to this vision. The Global Volunteering Standard offers a practical framework for quality, safe, and inclusive volunteer engagement, while the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report provides pathways for measuring and communicating volunteers’ impact. Together, these tools demonstrate how shared standards and credible evidence can turn the values of volunteering into meaningful, lasting impact at local, national, and global levels.
As IVY 2026 unfolds, this is a moment to move from acknowledgment to action — investing in volunteer ecosystems, strengthening partnerships, and embedding volunteering across sustainable development efforts at every level, especially as communities worldwide face interconnected and multidimensional crises. By valuing, protecting, and empowering volunteers, we not only support those who give their time and skills but also strengthen the resilience, solidarity, and shared future of communities worldwide.
