Latest Forum Research Report and Survey Findings

In mid-2020, Forum launched an ambitious research project to inform the future of volunteering for development post-COVID. A team of researchers  –  Helene Perold, Cliff Allum, Jacob Mati and Benjamin Lough –  have worked with Forum members and volunteering networks to explore our sector’s response to the pandemic, new and emerging volunteering modalities, and the bigger questions of what COVID means for volunteering in development and where we go from here.

This research report examines the lessons from the COVID-19 experience in 2020, the emergence of alternative programme models, and the future of volunteering for development. A detailed study was conducted with seven international volunteer cooperation organisations, in addition to the collection of qualitative data (individual and focus group interviews involving 56 participants) and quantitative data through two online surveys – one with VIOs and one with volunteers.

This report is the centrepiece of a three-part research series. It is followed by a report of the findings of surveys of volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations, and a set of detailed case studies of Forum members.