The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme commissioned a global research study to look at the development of supportive volunteerism legislation and to analyse considerations in drafting and implementing volunteerism laws and policies. As a result of this research, a guidance note was developed for UNV through a joint effort of the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law and the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law.  It was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).  Read article

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Civil Society Studies announced the release of a new manual to help statistical agencies around the world track the amount, type and value of volunteer work in their countries.

The manual, drafted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies in cooperation with the ILO and an International Technical Experts Group, and with the support of the United Nations Volunteers, represents the first-ever internationally sanctioned guidance to statistical agencies for generating reliable, official data on volunteer work using a common definition and approach.

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This research investigates the current international development context and the characteristics, contributions and recognition of international volunteers who serve, through independent international volunteer cooperation organisations (IVCOs), for at least one year in development and sustainability work.   Read article