Russian Federation

Paragraphs that mention volunteering

Paragraph 1, page 10

When the review was being prepared, it was noted that most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and objectives are already included to varying degrees in the main strategic and programmatic documents adopted in Russia. The involvement of civil society, business, non-governmental organizations, volunteers and academia is very important for the achievement of the SDGs. SDG 1: End poverty. According to the key parameters, the goal of ending extreme poverty has been achieved in Russia. The effective poverty reduction policy that is being implemented in the country envisages that by 2024, the national poverty rate will fall by at least half (in 2018, the proportion of disadvantaged people with incomes below the minimum subsistence level(1) was 12.6 per cent). This effort will be aided by national projects (Demographics, Workforce Productivity and Employment Support, and others) and the development of new support mechanisms (such as the introduction of the “social contract” tool and the development of volunteering).

Paragraph 2, page 25

In addition to the government, other stakeholders are also involved in implementing the 2030 Agenda. The role of non-governmental and non-profit organizations, citizens and young people, including in the voluntary sector, the academic community, and business is worthy of note. Only the combined efforts of the government and all stakeholders can ensure that the SDGs are effectively achieved.

Paragraph 3, page 26

In addition, one of the most important priorities for social and youth policy in the Russian Federation is developing and supporting volunteering. A Roadmap for the Development of Volunteering in the Russian Federation until 2025 has been adopted to create a systemic approach to the development of this movement in Russia.(6) It is envisaged that 20% of citizens will be involved in such volunteering by 2024.

Paragraph 4, page 32

In addition, to support vulnerable population groups, the #We’reTogether mutual assistance initiative (organized by the nationwide Volunteer Medics movement, the Association of Volunteer Centres and the All-Russia People's Front) has been launched. The assistance offered by this initiative includes buying and delivering essential goods, providing counselling and legal assistance, help at medical facilities, and technological support. Similar assistance can be obtained through the Good Deeds Aggregator project (Moscow Department of Labour and Social Protection), the @good (Mail.ru Group) project, and others.

Paragraph 5, page 53

Since 2014, programme interventions to promote the sustainable development of rural areas have been implemented to create comfortable living conditions in rural areas, establish favourable infrastructural conditions and boost the involvement of the rural population, including volunteers,(21) in the implementation of projects of public importance and the fostering of a positive attitude towards rural areas and the rural way of life.

Paragraph 6, page 63

Practical example. Volunteer Medics, the nationwide volunteer movement in the health sector. Volunteer Medics was founded in 2013 and is currently one of Europe’s largest voluntary organizations in the healthcare sector. Around 4 million Russians receive help and support from volunteer medics each year, and the organization operates in fields such as broad public health education, increasing the prestige of medical professions and developing the capacity of human resources for the healthcare sector.

Paragraph 7, page 78

The female entrepreneurship index rose in 2018 (to 69%), as did the number of social projects of public importance run by women. There was also an increase in the number of women volunteers and charitable organizations.

Paragraph 8, page 126

In addition, in the Russian Federation, as part of efforts to implement the Action Strategy for Senior Citizens in the Russian Federation until 2025, the Silver Volunteering programme has been introduced. This is a voluntary movement for senior citizens which aims to support and encourage senior citizens to participate in society, including through volunteering, thus helping them to lead a healthy lifestyle and avoid loneliness, depression and so on. The nationwide Young at Heart project, initiated by the Association of Volunteer Centres, is being implemented in many regions of Russia through the creation of regional “silver” volunteering centres.

Paragraph 9, page 127

Vnesheconombank (VEB). In October 2016, VEB launched the Dreams Have No Age volunteering project, which is being run jointly with the Joy of Old Age foundation. This project aims to provide comprehensive support to senior citizens living in homes for the elderly. As part of the project, volunteers from VEB and organizations within the VEB Group regularly help residents in three supported homes for the elderly: a residential care home in Dubna (Tula Oblast, 311 patients), a residential care home in Vyshny Volochyok (Tver Oblast, 514 patients) and a nursing care facility in the village of Ostashevo (Moscow Oblast, 32 patients).

Paragraph 10, page 152

The V. I. Vernadsky Non-governmental Environmental Foundation has been actively promoting the fostering and development of an environmental culture through environmental awareness-raising and volunteering for over 20 years. The foundation is running an environmental awareness project, Ecology Days, in collaboration with its members, most of whom represent the Russian business sector, with support from leading regional institutes of higher education. The target audience was 1,500 people in 2019, and in total, over 10,000 people from various regions of the country have taken part in it since it was launched (in 2013). Another initiative of this foundation is the nationwide Green Spring environmental clean-up – a movement launched in 2014 which has been joined by 13 million volunteers in all constituent territories of the Russian Federation. VuzEcoFest is a project that trains a community of leaders, mentors and eventually professionals in the field of sustainable development. The members of this community pass on knowledge and skills and implement specific solutions at institutes of higher education, in towns and in other administrative areas with support from stakeholders (authorities in charge of institutes of higher education, representatives from businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies), and also promote institutional changes in the field of sustainable development at the national level. In 2019, 64 institutes of higher education in 22 cities in Russia and Belarus and 595 volunteers took part in VuzEcoFest initiatives, and over 200 events were held.

Paragraph 11, page 153

Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism (goal 12.b). Russia has enormous potential to develop responsible tourism, including unspoilt natural resources and rich cultural and historical traditions. In 2016, the country was among the top 10 most popular tourist destinations in the world and second (after Poland) in the league table of European countries in terms of tourism growth. In addition, work is being done in Russia to develop eco-volunteering and socially responsible tourism, including by running special programmes at institutes of higher education.

Paragraph 12, page 176

Practical example. Participation of civil society in forest restoration work 
Twice a year, the Federal Forestry Agency organizes volunteering initiatives on forest restoration: a spring initiative called National Forest Planting Day, and an autumn initiative called Live, Forest! Between 2011 and June 2019, 21 million people took part in these initiatives, planting 405 million trees.

Paragraphs that mention the integration of volunteering into development plans, policies and strategies No mention