PURPOSE: The 5 December as International Volunteer Day was designated the United Nations General Assembly in 1985. It offers an opportunity for volunteer-involving organizations and individual volunteers to promote volunteerism, encourage governments to support volunteer efforts and recognize volunteer contributions to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local, national and international levels.
FORUM: “Every contribution matters” International Volunteer Day 2025. More than 2.1 billion volunteers worldwide act every month to foster solidarity and humanity. Their efforts are vital for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, responding to humanitarian emergencies, and building resilient communities. IVY 2026 calls on governments, United Nations entities, civil society, academia and the private sector to deepen global understanding of volunteerism, promote knowledge-sharing, and integrate volunteering into national development strategies. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #5December, #everycontributionmatters, #InternationalVolunteerDay, #IVD2025.
EVENTS: At UNHQ; On December 5th;The United Nations Specialized Agencies, the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) and the UNV regional offices will held a high-level event to mark the Day. The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and partners celebrates International Volunteer Day 2025 under the theme “Every contribution matters”, announcing two major milestones: The global launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY) 2026, as proclaimed by the UN General Assembly through resolution 78/127; and the release of the 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR), which sets the tone for an initiative to recognize and advance volunteer contributions to sustainable development. The official opening of IVY 2026 takes place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Germany, Kazakhstan and UNV. The event features high-level remarks by the President of the General Assembly, the co-hosts, a multi-stakeholder Global Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering, and the unveiling of the 2026 SWVR.
LIVESTREAM: Opening Event of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY) 2026. Aligned with the 2025 International Volunteer Day theme, "Every contribution matters", theeventwill serve as a platform for Member States to pledge concrete actions to operationalize Resolution 78/127 such asintegrating volunteerism into national development strategiesandestablishing national committees to lead their International Volunteer Year campaigns at the country level. This opening event will bring together Member States, United Nations entities, civil society, academia, and the private sector toelevate the visibility of volunteers and position volunteerism as a strategic enabler of sustainable development, peacebuilding and humanitarian response. The event will feature the launch of the 2026 State of the World's Volunteerism Report, setting the tone for a year-long global initiative to recognize, amplify and advance the contributions of volunteers to global development and resilience. The event is co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Kazakhstan and Germany and the United Nations Volunteers programme. Get the Concept note!
Around the world, events marking International Volunteer Day and the launch of the International Volunteer Year are taking place this week; from a running activity and parade in Bangkok, to the International Forum of Civil Participation in Moscow, celebrations in Nantong and Shanghai in China, a regional launch in Uzbekistan and Kenya’s national launch at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, among many others. Register to participate!
At UNOV, The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) will held a virtual event to demonstrate its commitment to communities and the wellbeing of Volunteers across the globe through concrete community volunteer activities carried out with national and UN system partners.
ACTIVITIES: It’s time to Participate in a volunteering activity to mark IVD and demonstrate the spirit of volunteerism among local residents. The UNV thanks in advance its UN Member States partners for their generous contributions in support of volunteerism for sustainable development and peace and counts on their continued support. For more details, visit the activities in developed in Celebration of the nternational Volunteer Day 2025 and for the launch of the International Volunteer Year 2026. Discover also the learning opportunities. Explore the Upcoming Learning opportunities Events.
PUBLICATIONS: Read the 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report.
The UNV Plan of Action 2016-2030 to Integrate Volunteering into the 2030 Agenda is a framework under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) through which governments, volunteer-involving organizations, UN agencies, private sector, civil society and academia come together to strengthen people’s ownership of the 2030 Agenda; integrate volunteering in national strategies and policies; and measure the contribution of volunteering to the SDGs. Read the full Plan of Action!
Youth on the Frontlines: A Study of Volunteering in Flood Disaster Relief Efforts. Youth are crucial during and after disasters, providing essential manpower to support affected communities.
STATEMENTS: Read the Statement of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres International Volunteer Day 2025; December 5th, the Statement from UNDP Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu on International Volunteer Day 2025..
PODCASTS: Explore how emerging volunteer models can be a pathway for building equal and inclusive societies within the pursuit of achieving the SDGs, and encouraging volunteerism worldwide. Listen to the Audio-podcsts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Join the campaign to recognize Volunteers invaluable role in improving the lives around them. Social media materials are available on UNV's Trello. Get the campaign Materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
PARTNERSHIPS
The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development is celebrated every year on December 5th. Through the years, IVD has been used strategically: many countries have focused on volunteer contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, a set of time-bound targets to combat poverty, hunger, disease, health, environmental degradation and gender equality. IVD celebrates active volunteers and attracts new volunteers in the global North and global South, with a special focus on promoting South-South cooperation.
In most societies, millions of people make significant contributions to economic and social development through voluntary action. Volunteerism is one of the most vital delivery mechanisms for social, environmental and economic transformation, ensuring a lasting impact with its ability to change people’s mindsets, attitudes and behaviours. People become actors of change and equal partners in the attainment of local, national and international progress towards sustainable human development and global peace. The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme recognizes the shared universal values underpinning volunteerism – free will, commitment, equity, engagement, solidarity, compassion, empathy and respect for others.
Bring the voices of volunteers to the attention of policy decision-makers.
Enhance the vision towards a better society by promoting volunteerism.
Support a better understanding of volunteerism.
Showcase volunteers in action including informal volunteering by people living in difficult circumstances, and self-support actions at the community level
Showcase the important contributions of v volunteers andrelief workers in diverse fields such as enhanced livelihoods, social inclusion, social cohesion, emergency responses, disaster risk reduction, governance and political participation.
Showcase volunteers in action including informal volunteering by people living in difficult circumstances, and self-support actions at the community level.
Advocate for a General Assembly resolution with strong recognition of the value of volunteerism to society with recommendation to governments for institutional support, and with call on governments and society to support and fund volunteer initiatives.
Exhibit Volunteerism universality, scope and reach by highlighting new trends in the 21st century.
The International Volunteer Day is co-organized by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECOSOC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Volunteer Programme (UNV), Impact 2030, the International Forum for Volunteering for Development , the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE)/Global Corporate Volunteer Council (GCVC), the Points of Light, the New York Cares and many others.
With the participation of The International Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the Australian Volunteers International, the Peace Corps, the Global Volunteer Organizations - Volunteer World, the Service Civil International, the International Volunteers HQ, the Voluntary services overseas,the International Voluntary Service, the AIESEC
The organization of IVD events is generally the result of a partnership between the UN system, governments, volunteer-involving organizations and committed individuals. Representatives from the media or academia, foundations, the private sector, faith groups, and sports and recreational organizations are often involved too.