Volunteerism provides a key channel for the successful implementation of a more inclusive future development agenda advocated by the SDGs. The report analyses the relationship between volunteerism and governance and some of the core governance issues amenable to volunteer action locally, nationally and globally. It argues that volunteerism is an additional resource and vehicle for bringing skills, knowledge and expertise to enable voice and participation, accountability and responsiveness.
This report is designed to help governments, civil society organisations, bilaterals, multilaterals and other organisations to realise the full potential of volunteerism at global, national and local levels. It identifies key strategies, challenges and opportunities for volunteerism, focused on three pillars of governance – voice and participation, accountability, and responsiveness. Evidence is largely qualitative, based on robust and detailed case material. These cases focus on how people organise within their own communities and with local governance at the local level; relations between citizens and states, and how volunteerism is changing and developing new strategies to address new forms of ownership and control, the governance of global public goods and the fast-evolving world of social media.
Key messages:
At the local level:
- volunteers operate outside formal local governance structures to ensure their voices are heard and are increasingly involved in shaping policies and making decisions on issues that directly affect their lives.
- volunteerism enables people to learn new skills and deepen their understanding of their rights so they can influence decision-making that affects their communities.
- there is a risk of governments shifting the burden of work to volunteers.
At the national level:
- volunteerism is perceived to work with governments on core governance issues in ways that enhance social inclusion, improve social and development results and foster peace.
- returns on volunteer engagement with governance issues are maximised when enabling conditions , such as freedom of speech, are in place.
- some governments have engaged citizens more systematically over the long-term to inform and implement policies.
- large-scale mobilisation is essential to the success of many bottom-up volunteer initiatives.
At the global level:
- volunteer engagement most often encounters closed spaces because governance actors tend to prioritise relations with donors, members and investors over citizens and communities.
- CSOs with roots in local volunteerism should resist globalisation pressures that may see them weaken their local legitimacy. Building alliances can facilitate more global reach, for example, Jubilee 2000, the Occupy Movement and the People’s Climate March.
- Technology is a potential powerful tool for grater civic engagement, but the digital access divide needs to be addressed.
Implications
- Volunteerism can contribute to enhancing the voice and participation, accountability and responsiveness with a range of actors across different levels.
- Volunteering has its own power dynamics and hierarchies. Volunteer spaces are gendered, have differential access to funding and support, and access to people in power.
- An enabling environment is essential for volunteerism to fully contribute to any future sustainable development agenda.
- Collaboration, alliances and multi-stakeholder partnerships are essential for volunteerism to succeed.
- Deepening understanding through research is critical
