The Global Volunteering Standard: A Global Framework of Good Practice for Volunteering in Development
About the author
Rahim Hassanali is a seasoned professional with two decades of experience working for non-profit organisations in the UK and overseas. He has worked for several prestigious organisations, including the Aga Khan Development Network and The Prince’s Trust. He has been instrumental in leading the development of the world’s first Global Volunteering Standard on behalf of VSO and the International Forum for Volunteering in Development.
The Global Volunteering Standard
Volunteering is a critical element in advancing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. For volunteers to make the greatest possible contribution to achieving those goals, it is crucial that we have agreed good practice standards for organisations that work with volunteers.
This is where the Global Volunteering Standard comes in. This blog post explores what the Global Volunteering Standard is, why it matters, and how it is setting the bar for the volunteering in development sector.
What is the Global Volunteering Standard?
The Global Volunteering Standard is good practice framework developed by the International Forum for Volunteering in Development (Forum) to improve practice in organisations that work with volunteers to achieve sustainable development, and to make volunteering programs more responsible and impactful.
It is the first globally-agreed good practice standard for volunteer-involving organisations to achieve their mission in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.
To develop the Standard, Forum drew on the expertise and wisdom of several hundred people, organisations and communities from 80 countries, from across the volunteering sector and further afield.
By engaging a wide range of stakeholders throughout developing, piloting, and refining the Standard, this resource has truly been developed by the volunteering sector for the volunteering sector.
Why is the Global Volunteering Standard significant?
The Global Volunteering Standard is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it provides a common language for practitioners and policy makers across the volunteering sector. This fosters consistency in how we engage with volunteers and communities, ensuring a safe, supported, and well-structured approach.
Secondly, the Standard sets a high bar for volunteering programmes. By following its guidance, organisations can ensure that their programs are of the highest quality and deliver maximum impact.
Finally, the Global Volunteering Standard is a living document. It is reviewed periodically and updated in response to new research and evolving good practice. This ensures that it remains relevant and up-to-date.
What does the Global Volunteering Standard cover?
The Standard captures a collective, global understanding of good practice throughout the volunteering programme cycle. It covers the following Key Thematic Areas:
- Designing and Delivering Projects - Volunteering programmes are designed and delivered in partnership with local communities and respond to local needs.
- Duty of Care - All stakeholders, including community members, volunteers, and the natural environment are kept safe from harm.
- Managing Volunteers - Volunteers are fully prepared, trained and supported to ensure they are effective and impactful in supporting development efforts.
- Measuring Impact - The impact of volunteer efforts is clearly defined, tracked, and evaluated by everyone involved, including the local community.
The Standard has been designed in a flexible way. This means that organisations can select specific sections of the Standard to work on, according to their organisational needs.
How you can engage with the Standard
To learn more about the Standard, read it in your language, and delve into its accompanying tools and resources at the Global Volunteering Standard Platform.
To make the most of it, register on the Platform to explore the online Self-Assessment Tool and Resource Library and join workshops for organisations that are interested in engaging with the Standard which will take place in September 2023.
To get in touch with Forum or express interest in attending workshops please email: globalvolunteeringstandard@forum-ids.org.
We look forward to supporting you to get the most out of the Global Volunteering Standard.
The views expressed in this guest post are solely those of the author, the content or documents that are referred to in this post are not necessarily endorsed by UNV.