New York–The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) concluded its participation in the 2026 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) with a call to recognize, invest in and integrate volunteerism into sustainable development efforts. UNV advanced the objectives of the International Volunteer Year (IVY) 2026 through support to four volunteerism-related side events and engagement with Member States and partners.
A major outcome of the Forum was the inclusion of volunteerism in the Ministerial Declaration, recognizing volunteers' contributions to supporting communities, strengthening resilience and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This recognition is an important milestone for IVY 2026 and shows growing global support for volunteerism as a driver of sustainable development.
Throughout the Forum, volunteers and volunteerism featured prominently in discussions on climate action, youth leadership, stronger communities, and resilience. UNV joined the Permanent Missions of France, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia in supporting events organized by a wide range of partners, including the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), the Saudi Green Building Forum, France Volontaires, the Global Volunteering Forum, the Volunteer Groups Alliance and more.
A standout moment was the launch of the Review of Best Volunteerism Practices in CICA Member States, which spotlighted volunteer initiatives across Asia and brought forth the role of volunteerism in building trust and cooperation.
Speaking at the event, Haoliang Xu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UNDP Associate Administrator, said: “The International Volunteer Year 2026 is an opportunity not only to celebrate volunteers, but also to strengthen the policies and partnerships that enable volunteerism to thrive.”
UNV also presented findings from the 2026 State of the World's Volunteerism Report, which estimates that 2.1 billion people volunteer every month worldwide—more than one-third of the global working-age population. Discussions called for stronger evidence, better measurement of volunteer contributions and greater investment in volunteering as a strategic enabler of sustainable development.
At a side event on responsible and impactful volunteering organized by France Volontaires and partners, Naoual Driouich, Head of UNV's New York Office, shared: “Through IVY 2026, Member States have recognized that volunteerism is not only about participation, but also about how we volunteer—how we ensure quality, inclusivity and long-term impact.”
As the world enters the final stretch towards achieving the SDGs, UNV continues to work with partners to champion volunteerism as a powerful force for turning global commitments into local action and ensuring that no one is left behind.
For more information on the side events at the HLPF, please click here.