When a crisis strikes a city—whether a flood, an economic shock, or a public health emergency—the first people to act are rarely municipal agencies. They are neighbours rescuing neighbours, youth groups mapping evacuation routes, and community leaders organizing food distribution long before formal systems mobilize. In Accra’s low-lying neighbourhoods, volunteer groups clear drains ahead of seasonal floods to prevent homes from being inundated. In São Paulo, community kitchens sprang up during the pandemic to feed families cut off from income. These acts of solidarity reveal a powerful, often overlooked asset: the civic infrastructure that sustains cities when formal systems falter.
To build resilience, urban leaders must recognize residents as essential partners. The 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) offers guidance on strengthening this civic infrastructure. Here's my take.
Revealing the Scale of Civic Wealth
Volunteerism is more widespread than most realize. The report estimates that 2.1 billion people volunteer monthly, representing 34.5 percent of the world’s working-age population. This is not a peripheral activity—it is a global civic force.
The report distinguishes between formal, direct, and mutual aid volunteering. Globally, direct volunteering is twice as common.
In Nairobi’s informal settlements, youth groups maintain footbridges and shared water points—services that would otherwise be inaccessible. For city managers, the implication is clear: focusing solely on registered organizations overlooks most civic energy.
Recognizing and supporting informal volunteering must become central to any urban resilience strategy.
Volunteers at the Frontline of Intersecting Crises
Chapter 6 of the report shows volunteers addressing overlapping crises—a daily urban reality. City departments are siloed, but crises cut across boundaries. A storm is an infrastructure, health, and housing emergency at once.
Volunteers move fluidly across these silos. In Manila, community-based disaster brigades provide first aid, evacuation, and mapping—roles that span multiple municipal departments. In New Orleans, volunteer networks check on elderly residents during heatwaves. Volunteers bring hyperlocal knowledge, cultural insight, and social trust—assets that formal systems lack.
The evidence presented in the report reminds cities not to depend solely on unpaid volunteers, as high-stress environments carry real physical and emotional costs.
Municipal leaders must invest in training, microgrants, equipment, and meaningful participation in decision-making. Empowering volunteers is a moral and practical necessity.
The Global Index of Volunteer Engagement
To measure volunteerism without reducing it to finance, the report introduces the Global Index of Volunteer Engagement (GIVE)—a dashboard for a city’s civic health.
The first dimension, Value to the Individual, recognizes how volunteering builds confidence, skills, and well-being. In Durban, youth volunteers involved in coastal cleanups gain environmental management skills that improve their employability.
The second dimension, Value to the Community, highlights how volunteerism fosters trust, cohesion, and solidarity. In Berlin, neighbourhood groups help integrate new migrants, strengthening social cohesion in rapidly changing districts.
The third dimension, Value to the Economy, acknowledges the substantial economic contribution volunteers make. When residents in Medellín co-maintain hillside stairways and public spaces, they reduce municipal maintenance costs and extend the lifespan of infrastructure.
Finally, the Enabling Environment dimension examines how city policies either support or hinder civic action. Cities like Seoul have shown how small grants and regulations can unlock thousands of micro initiatives—from rooftop gardens to neighborhood safety patrols.
These dimensions offer city leaders a holistic way to understand the extent of volunteering and how support strengthens resilience.
Strengthening Urban Finance and Climate Resilience
When cities adopt GIVE, the benefits extend directly to two of the most pressing urban challenges: financing and climate adaptation. Community-Driven Development—where residents co-design and oversee projects—reduces investment risk.
In Freetown, tree planting initiatives led by communities have improved hillside stability while strengthening public trust in municipal climate programs. When communities help shape a park, drainage system, or public space, they maintain and protect it, ensuring its longevity and lowering lifecycle costs, thus increasing investor confidence.
Climate adaptation succeeds when grounded in local knowledge. Volunteers know where floods start and which solutions work.
In Jakarta, community flood monitors provide real-time data that complements official early warning systems, leading to smarter, equitable climate strategies.
A Call to Action for Modern Cities
Today’s crises require cities to shift from management to empowerment. Municipal budgets alone cannot solve challenges, but the collective agency of residents can. The SWVR’s message is clear: volunteers are the frontline infrastructure of resilience. City leaders must use tools like GIVE to strengthen civic action, remove barriers, and invest in those who sustain them.
Bridging formal institutions and community solidarity helps cities thrive—when formal systems falter.
Udo Mbeche Smith is a Research and Publications Specialist. She coordinated the 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report 2026 along with the Volunteer Advisory Services section at UNV.