The webinar focused on the role of volunteers in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in leaving no one behind and addressing factors that cause marginalization. Participants from various countries shared experiences and case studies highlighting the impact of volunteers in different sectors, including health, governance, and community development etc. The discussion also covered challenges faced by volunteers, the need for better integration of volunteering into policies, and future collaborations to further understand and support volunteer work.

The webinar was moderated by Emiliya Asadova, Evidence Lead, Volunteer Advisory Services Section, United Nations Volunteers

The speakers included

• Dr Tapiwa Dr. Tapiwa Kamuruko Chief, Volunteer Advisory Services Section, United Nations Volunteers.

• Sophie Plagerson- Author of the research paper.
• Dr. Kalangwa Kalangwa- Director Health Promotion and Community Engagement, and Ministry Spokes Person from the Ministry of Health, Government of the Republic of Zambia
• Sonia Mehzabeen- UNV Country Coordinator in Bangladesh who shared her presentation with 
• Ms. Takia Islam Toma – Programme Assistant, UNDP and
• Mr. Mosabbir Hossain- Project Support Associate UNODC who shared their experiences on what volunteers are doing in the field and 
• Blerim Azizi - Programme Analyst, UNV Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia. 

Volunteers' Role in Achieving SDGs

Tapiwa emphasized the importance of volunteers in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the need to harness all efforts to reach the goals. He encouraged active participation in the discussion and identified the role volunteers can play in amplifying volunteer efforts and voices. Emiliya then handed over to Sophie Plagerson, the author of the report on the role of volunteers in leaving no one behind, which was commissioned by UNV. Sophie expressed her pleasure at being able to share the report's findings.

Sophie discussed the role of volunteers in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in relation to the mandate of "leaving no one behind." She highlighted that volunteering is strongly aligned with this goal and is crucial in addressing factors that cause people to be left behind, such as discrimination, weak governance structures, vulnerability to shocks, and socioeconomic status. Sophie also emphasized the importance of intersectionality in understanding who is left behind. She presented several examples from around the world where volunteers have played a significant role in addressing these issues, including in Bangladesh, Rwanda, and Lebanon. Sophie concluded by mentioning the report's recommendations for UN institutions and national governments to promote the role of volunteers in achieving the SDGs.

Volunteers Impact in Bangladesh 

Sonia Mehzabeen, a country coordinator for UN Volunteers in Bangladesh, shared her experiences and the impact of UN Volunteers in the country. Sonia highlighted the importance of youth volunteers in Bangladesh and their contributions to policy reforms and good governance. She also introduced two volunteers, Takia and Mosabir, who shared their experiences working with UNDP and UNODC respectively. Takia discussed her work in empowering women entrepreneurs and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals, while Mosabir shared his work in enhancing the operational and tactical capabilities of law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh, with a focus on gender equality and good governance. In the meeting, Mosabbir shared his experiences working with vulnerable communities in Bangladesh, highlighting the importance of addressing gender discrimination and inequalities. The conversation ended with a discussion on a comprehensive study on trafficking in persons and gender, which will be conducted with the help of UN Community Volunteers.

Addressing Vulnerabilities and Engaging Youth

Blerim then presented on the importance of youth volunteering and cooperation with institutions in engaging youth and providing services to vulnerable populations in Kosovo. He shared an example of a project that engaged UN volunteers to support centers for social work, leading to the retention of many volunteers by the centers. Emiliya thanked Blerim and introduced Dr. Kalangwa from the Ministry of Health of Zambia, to discuss health promotion and community engagement.

Volunteerism's Role in health service delivery in Zambia

Dr. Kalangwa emphasized the importance of volunteerism in achieving sustainable development, particularly in health service delivery. He highlighted the significant contributions of volunteers in addressing systemic challenges, enhancing healthcare delivery in rural and underserved communities, and promoting public health campaigns. Dr. Kalangwa also discussed the importance of effective partnerships between government and volunteer organizations, citing examples such as the COVID-19 community youth volunteers response initiative and the Community Health Assistant program. He concluded by calling for a reaffirmation of commitment to volunteerism as a cornerstone for sustainable development and urged for stronger integration of volunteer networks into national and international frameworks.

Reflections from the presentations

Emiliya Asadova led a discussion on the importance of volunteers in addressing the needs of marginalized communities, particularly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She highlighted the challenges faced by volunteers, such as physical and mental exhaustion, and the need for capacity building and access to resources. Sophie added that the quality of analysis and reporting on volunteer contributions varies, with a need for mainstreaming good practices and integrating volunteering into policies and strategies. The discussion also touched on the role of volunteers in addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality, and the need for a holistic approach to the SDGs. Emiliya announced a collaboration with the International Labor Organization on a knowledge product related to unpaid care work and volunteering, which will be the subject of a webinar in January.