Volunteering, Humanitarian Crises and Development

WHAT ROLES CAN VOLUNTEERS PLAY IN TACKLING THE BIGGEST GLOBAL CHALLENGES?

Volunteers play critical roles globally in meeting the challenges of poverty, inequality and the climate emergency, and are often the first responders to humanitarian crises and disasters. They can often offer solidarity, advocate and organise for change, but not all volunteers are treated equally, and some face risks that others are protected from.

International volunteers often receive the most attention when it comes to volunteering in humanitarian and development contexts. But they are far outnumbered by local and national volunteers, who are often first on the scene in a crisis, as well as being critical to longer term development activities. Understanding the roles diverse volunteers play in meeting critical global challenges can help ensure that volunteers are not exploited, that their local and expert knowledge is recognised, and that the potential of volunteering for making a difference is realised in different contexts and for all volunteers.

BUILDING GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

Northumbria academics are creating a world-leading hub of research expertise, knowledge exchange and learning on volunteering in humanitarian crises and development contexts. We work in partnership with leading global volunteering and development organisations, such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Forum for Volunteering in Development (Forum) and VSO, to design and deliver work together that creates new understanding and changes policy and practice. We also work closely with academics across the world, building networks and connections and promoting new voices in volunteering research.

Our work is supported through significant funding from UK research councils, leading global humanitarian agencies and NGOs in the UK and internationally. This year has seen the launch of Volunteering, Climate Adaptation and Disasters (VOCAD), a new area of research on the climate emergency and voluntary labour, a new collaboration with the International NGO Habitat for Humanity and confirmation of Northumbria University as hosts of IVCO 2024, the leading global conference for policy-makers and practitioners working in volunteering and development.