How to measure the value of volunteerism and civic participation? UNDP/UNV presents a survey on the Armenian case

Mr. Dirk Boberg, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Armenia, presented the findings of the survey “Measuring socio-economic value of volunteerism in Armenia.” This survey, undertaken in collaboration with Yerevan State University, has been conducted, supervised and published by UNV Programme in Armenia thanks to the support of the VIOs’ network, the Youth Centers under the RoA Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, and a number of volunteers.

The survey gives an overview on volunteerism in Armenia through sociological identification of extra working activities and its financial supporters in Yerevan and five regions. It has been undertaken through a worldwide used research methodology, the UNV Toolkit, specifically created to compare patterns of economic value of volunteerism all around the globe.

“The survey is a good opportunity to explore patterns and hypotheses of volunteerism value in Armenia, and its presentation and distribution to the broader public is of paramount importance to gain familiarity with the subject for a more rigorous investigation later,” said Mr. Boberg.

The research on volunteerism should serve not only the purposes of acknowledging and recognizing the time and dedication people offer through social activities, but it can also be used as a baseline to better understand trends and gaps of voluntary action.

Providing up-to-date and accurate data on civic participation will enable policymakers to make informed decisions on this sector and to take into consideration its high value in adding to government service delivery.

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The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is present in Armenia since August 2008. The UNV Programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Created in 1971 by the UN General Assembly (resolution 2659 (XXV)) with the mandate to facilitate the integration of volunteers in development within the framework of Technical Cooperation for Development, UNV is now based in Bonn, Germany, and administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).