“When volunteering is measured well, it becomes visible in plans, policies and government priorities,” said Rafael Diez Medina, Chief Statistician and Director of the Department of Statistics at the International Labour Organization, at the webinar moderated by Yanchun Zhang, Chief Statistician at the Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme.Why develop GIVE now?

Held during International Volunteer Year 2026, the Roundtable focused on how volunteer action can strengthen solidarity and practical cooperation in the region and globally.The Republic of Korea has maintained a strong partnership with UNV under the Full Funding programme since 1986. Roundtable discussions focused on Korean youth and on retaining Korean talent through volunteer assignments.

Мероприятие проводится в контексте Международного года добровольцев (МГД) во имя устойчивого развития 2026 и нацелено на укрепление солидарности и практического сотрудничества в сфере волонтёрства как в азиатском регионе, так и на глобальном уровне. 

That is not only a statistic to admire. It is a development asset of extraordinary scale. Yet for too long, volunteerism has been treated as a backdrop to national development, invisible in plans, budgets, and policies. My team at UNV has spent last four years working to change that. We have provided technical support to governments across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, the Arab States, and Europe to formally embed volunteerism into their national plans and sectoral strategies. 

Held during International Volunteer Year 2026, the Roundtable will focus on how volunteer action can strengthen solidarity and practical cooperation in the region and globally.Gulbara Sultanova, Chair of the Civil Society Affairs Committee of the Ministry of Culture and Information, said, “UNV is our strategic partner. We are confident that further strengthening of our cooperation will lead to even more significant results.”

Мероприятие проводится в контексте Международного года добровольцев (МГД) во имя устойчивого развития 2026 и нацелено на укрепление солидарности и практического сотрудничества в сфере волонтёрства как в азиатском регионе, так и на глобальном уровне.

Held during International Volunteer Year 2026, the Roundtable will focus on how volunteer action can strengthen solidarity and practical cooperation in the region and globally.

Held during International Volunteer Year 2026, the Roundtable will focus on how volunteer action can strengthen solidarity and practical cooperation in the region and globally.Partners will review results from UNV’s Full Funding and Special Voluntary Fund, exchange lessons, and explore new ways to work together as priorities evolve across Asia and in the UN system.

The contribution of traditional partners to UNV is not symbolic. It is practical and strategic. 

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2026 the International Volunteer Year—setting the stage for a global celebration of volunteers.