From Invisible Effort to Measurable Impact: Global Experts Call for Rethinking How We Value Volunteerism

On 24 March 2026, more than 450 participants, a global audience of policymakers, researchers, practitioners and volunteers - gathered online to explore a question that is becoming increasingly urgent: how do we truly measure the impact of volunteerism? The discussion marked the opening session of the Global Webinar Series on the 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR 2026) ‘Volunteerism and its measurements’, hosted by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV), and set the tone for a broader shift in how volunteer contributions are understood worldwide.

Opening the session, Louise Chamberlain, Deputy Executive Coordinator of UNV, framed the conversation within a changing global context, one where volunteers continue to respond to crises, support communities, and contribute to development, yet remain largely underrepresented in formal data systems.

The paradox of volunteerism: everywhere, yet not always visible

Throughout the webinar, speakers returned to a central paradox: volunteerism is widespread, but much of its value remains invisible. Presenting key insights from the report, Professor Matt Baillie Smith, alongside Dr Bianca Fadel and Maxine Mpofu from the Northumbria University Research Consortium, emphasized that existing measurement systems often fail to capture the full scale and diversity of volunteer work. According to the global estimates published in the 2026 SWVR and shared during the session, around 2.1 billion people, 34.5% of the global working-age population, engage in volunteer work each month. Yet much of this activity, particularly informal and community-based volunteering, remains outside official statistics. This gap, speakers noted, has real consequences.

“If we don’t measure it, we don’t fully see it, and if we don’t see it, we don’t fully support it,” was a message that resonated throughout the discussion.

Moving beyond counting volunteers

The session introduced the Global Index of Volunteer Engagement (GIVE), presented by Professor Samuel Manda from the University of Pretoria, which will also be explored in further detail in the upcoming webinars of the global series. Rather than focusing solely on how many people volunteer, the GIVE framework captures a broader and more nuanced picture of impact. Its dimensions examine how volunteering contributes to individual well-being and skills development, how it strengthens communities and social cohesion, what economic value it generates, and whether the necessary conditions exist for volunteerism to thrive. This multidimensional perspective allows volunteerism to be understood not just as an activity, but as a system with tangible social and economic value, bringing it closer to how governments assess and prioritize development.

Strengthening the evidence base

Vladimir Ganta, representing the International Labour Organization (ILO), provided insights into how improved methodologies are reshaping global estimates of volunteer work. He highlighted that recent increases in global volunteer figures do not necessarily reflect a surge in activity, but rather better measurement of previously “invisible” forms of volunteering, particularly direct, informal contributions within communities. This point underscored one of the report’s key messages, improving measurement is not about inflating numbers, it is about capturing reality more accurately.

According to the latest data, around 2.1 billion people, or 34.5 per cent of the global population aged 15 and above, engage in volunteer work each month, confirming that volunteerism is a widespread global practice rather than a marginal activity. Participation rates vary significantly across regions, with the highest levels recorded in Africa (59 per cent), followed by Asia and the Pacific (32 per cent) and the Americas (30 per cent), while Europe and Central Asia and the Arab States report lower but still substantial engagement at 24 per cent.

Data in Context

Beyond frameworks and figures, the session also brought forward the importance of drawing on practical examples of how volunteerism is measured across different contexts. The 2026 SWVR includes over 100 examples from all regions of the world, spanning detailed case studies, speakers demonstrated that effective measurement requires a balance between global standards and locally grounded approaches. Methods ranged from economic valuation and longitudinal studies to participatory tools and digital platforms.

A recurring theme of the webinar and the 2026 SWVR more broadly, is that volunteers themselves should not be seen merely as subjects of measurement, but as co-creators of how their contributions are understood and valued.

Why this matters now

Moderated by Dr Tapiwa Kamuruko, Chief of Volunteer Advisory Services with support from Emiliya Asadova, Policy Specialist/Team Lead on Evidence at UNV, the session also included interactive engagement asking participants to reflect on their own challenges for measuring volunteer impact, from lack of tools and standards to limited time and resources. The conclusion from this first global webinar was clear, improving how volunteerism is measured cannot be the responsibility of one institution alone. It requires collaboration between governments, international organizations, researchers, communities, and volunteers themselves.  While volunteerism is one of the world’s most powerful forces for change, we must join forces to improve approaches to measurement so it can also become one of the most visible. 

The conversation will continue in the upcoming sessions of the SWVR 2026 Global Webinar Series on: Measuring the value of volunteering to individuals and communities scheduled for 16 April 2026 (Thursday), 1pm-2.15pm (CET). 

You can register here to join the conversation:

https://undp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bqifnbQHTWqa4M_LIVWPJQ#/registration  

The 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) stands as the United Nations’ flagship publication, offering deep insights into the power and impact of volunteerism in shaping our world. It highlights volunteerism’s universality, its vast scope, and its far-reaching influence in the twenty-first century.