Невидимая треть: почему волонтерство выпадает из государственной политики

Тойли Курбанов, Исполнительный координатор ДООН
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По любым меркам, волонтерство является одной из крупнейших, но наименее изученных систем, лежащих в основе глобальной стабильности. В недавно опубликованном докладе «Состояние волонтерства в мире», подготовленном программой Добровольцы ООН (ДООН), подсчитано, что примерно 2,1 миллиарда человек — около трети трудоспособного населения мира — занимаются волонтерской деятельностью в течение года. Выходит что волонтерство — не побочное хобби среднего класса, а массовая гражданская деятельность. Речь идет не только о хорошо известных волонтерах ООН или НПО. Вовлечение в волонтерство: это и сосед, организовавший раздачу продуктов питания нуждающимся; и студент, координирующий взаимопомощь; и сельская жительница, поддерживающая неформальные системы социальной защиты там, куда редко доходит государство; и корпоративный волонтер, делящийся полезными знаниями в удаленном режиме.

Во всем мире, страны и их правительства по сути располагают национальными «корпусами волонтеров» — но без соответствующей статьи в бюджетах. Граждане активно участвуют в создании общественных благ — но без отражения в административных данных.

La mayor fuerza laboral del mundo que nadie contabiliza

Toily Kurbanov, Coordinador Ejecutivo del programa de Voluntarios de las Naciones Unidas
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A la luz de cualquier criterio razonable, el voluntariado es uno de los sistemas más extensos y, al mismo tiempo, menos comprendidos que sostienen la estabilidad global. El Informe sobre el estado del voluntariado en el mundo, recientemente publicado por el programa de Voluntarios de las Naciones Unidas (UNV), estima que cerca de 2.100 millones de personas, aproximadamente un tercio de la población mundial en edad de trabajar, participan en alguna forma de voluntariado a lo largo de un año. El voluntariado no es, por tanto, una actividad marginal ni un pasatiempo limitado a ciertos grupos, sino una expresión masiva de acción cívica. Esto abarca no solo al voluntariado tradicional de las Naciones Unidas o de organizaciones no gubernamentales, sino también a la vecina que organiza la distribución de alimentos, a la juventud que articula redes de ayuda mutua, a las mujeres que sostienen sistemas informales de protección en comunidades donde el Estado apenas tiene presencia, y al voluntariado corporativo que, desde entornos digitales, comparte conocimientos con comunidades remotas.

En la práctica, los países ya cuentan con un “cuerpo de voluntariado” nacional de facto, aunque este no figure en sus presupuestos. La ciudadanía contribuye activamente a la provisión de bienes públicos, desde servicios de salud y apoyo educativo hasta respuesta ante desastres y cuidado social, sin quedar reflejada en los sistemas de información administrativa. Cada vez más, las instituciones nacionales comienzan a reconocer y articular este esfuerzo, en lugar de considerarlo invisible o circunstancial.

La plus grande force de travail au monde que personne ne comptabilise

Toily Kurbanov, Coordinateur exécutif des Volontaires des Nations Unies
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Selon toute appréciation objective, le volontariat constitue l’un des systèmes les plus vastes, mais aussi les moins bien compris, qui sous-tendent la stabilité mondiale. Le Rapport sur la situation du volontariat dans le monde, récemment publié par le programme des Volontaires des Nations Unies (VNU), estime qu’environ 2,1 milliards de personnes — soit près d’un tiers de la population mondiale en âge de travailler — participent à une forme de volontariat au cours d’une année. Le volontariat n’est donc pas une activité marginale, mais bien une pratique civique de masse.

Il ne se limite pas aux volontaires des Nations Unies ou des ONG. Il englobe également le voisin qui organise une distribution alimentaire, les jeunes qui coordonnent l’entraide, les femmes qui maintiennent des filets de sécurité informels dans des communautés peu desservies par l’État, ainsi que les volontaires d’entreprise qui partagent leurs compétences en ligne avec des communautés éloignées.

The World’s Largest Workforce No One Counts

Toily Kurbanov, UNV Executive Coordinator
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By any reasonable standard, volunteerism is one of the largest yet least understood systems underpinning global stability. The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report, recently published by United Nations Volunteers (UNV), suggests that roughly 2.1 billion people—about one third of the world’s working-age population—engage in some form of volunteering over the course of a year. Volunteerism is, therefore, not a marginal hobby of the middle class but a mass civic activity. This includes not only the familiar UN or NGO volunteer, but also the neighbour organizing food distribution, the youth coordinating mutual aid, the women maintaining informal safety nets in communities the state rarely reaches, and the corporate volunteer working online to share knowledge with a remote community.

In effect, countries and their governments already preside over a de facto national “volunteer corps” without a line in their budgets. Citizens are actively co-producing public goods—health outreach, education support, disaster response and social care—without appearing in administrative data. Increasingly, national institutions are prepared to recognize and work with this effort rather than treating it as invisible and incidental.

Why measuring volunteerism is no longer optional—but essential

Flavia Pansieri, former Executive Coordinator of UNV
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There was a time—not very long ago—when suggesting that volunteerism could be measured felt inappropriate and utopian. Yet, measuring volunteerism is critical to making sure its contributions are visible, valued, and integrated into policy and development discussions. When we launched the first State of the World’s Volunteerism Report in 2011, I remember asking a very simple question: if volunteerism matters so much, why are we not measuring it? 

The response was cautious, as some felt volunteerism was too intangible or rooted in solidarity to be captured by indicators, almost as if measuring it would devalue its contribution to a mere metric. I understood the hesitation, but I also knew that if something is not measured, it is too easily overlooked—and if it is overlooked, it is rarely recognized. After all, as the saying goes: “if you don’t count it, it doesn’t count”.

Why Volunteerism is Africa’s Secret Development Strength

Dr. Meshesha Shewarega, Coordinator of the African Union Continental Volunteer Linkage Platform
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The 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR): Volunteerism and Its Measurements arrives at a crucial time for Africa. This is not just another report to set aside; it marks a real shift in how we recognize the people who drive our progress. The 2026 SWVR puts things into perspective: every month 2.1 billion people, or one out of every three working-age adults, are out there volunteering. Africa plays a major role in this movement. For the first time, we can clearly see the scale of volunteering here: Africa has about 539 million volunteers, which is more than half of our working-age population. With a participation rate of 58.5 percent, Africa records the highest rate globally, reminding us that mutual aid is simply how communities look out for each other and get things done.

By focusing on accurate measurement of volunteer work instead of general statements, the report encourages us to reexamine how we view power, participation, and development. For those who support local action, it builds on the African Union (AU) Commission’s first  State of Volunteerism in Africa Report. It signals a real shift: volunteerism is moving from being overlooked to becoming a key part of evidence-based planning.

The private sector steps in for IVY 2026

Bonn, Germany
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From automotive and technology to pharmaceuticals, and from finance to energy, companies see IVY 2026 as an opportunity to champion volunteer action at scale. They are exploring ways to leverage their platforms, communications channels and employee engagement programmes to make the Year visible and inspire action worldwide, further highlighting the importance of corporate social responsibility.

When companies empower their employees to serve, societies grow stronger – everywhere.” Toily Kurbanov, UNV Executive Coordinator.

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