Volunteers are widely known for their engagement in healthcare activities.

They provide first aid during emergencies, and many are involved in community health work over long periods of time. For example, during this COVID-19 pandemic, many volunteers support the immediate response, providing critical information, and the preparation for its longer-term consequences.

Some of the challenges and opportunities related to health and volunteering include:

• Revisiting volunteering schemes applicable to community health workers to rethink innovative solutions around sustainability and replicability
• Strengthening partnerships within health programmes through different forms of volunteer engagement, including international volunteers
• Identifying and addressing gendered aspects of the volunteering experience in community health promotion through the provision of adequate support for improved results

UNV has been contributing to building a strong body of evidence over the years. 

The previous editions of the State of the World Volunteerism Reports featured case studies on health and volunteering. The 2022 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report included a focus on volunteerism during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the roles of community health volunteers and the diversity of health response across different contexts.