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Background Research onGender and Volunteerism

UNV Commissioned Study

Gender Action TeamUnited Nations VolunteersOctober 2009

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UN General Assembly on Volunteerismand Gender

It is important to ensure that opportunities

for volunteering in all sectors are open toboth women and men, given their levels of

participation in different areas, and

recognizing the potential positive effect ofvolunteering on the empowerment of

women. (GA56/38, 2001)

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UNV and Gender Equality UNV is the UN agency that promotes

volunteerism to support peace and development

UNDP is committed to management for genderequality results as it promotes equality, peace

and development

Per Executive Board mandate, UNV establisheda Gender Action Team, and developed a Gender

Action Plan

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UNV Gender Action PlanFor mainstreaming gender in

UNV volunteer recruitment and management

Projects integrating volunteerism

Promotion of volunteerism for peace and

development alliances

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Purpose of Background Research

Explore the dynamics of gender and volunteerism andtheir value-added to achieving the MDGs;

Frame the debate around the intersections of gender

and volunteerism in order to facilitate sharedunderstanding among their various stakeholders;

Highlight the potential of considering gender in thecontext of volunteerism as well as implications and

challenges for organizations working with volunteers.

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Exploring the relationships Gender in volunteerism: Would integrating

gender in volunteerism enhance its

contribution to achieving more effective/sustainable development outcomes?

Volunteerism for gender equality: What is the

contribution of volunteerism to gender

equality, women empowerment, social

inclusion?

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Considerations on Three Levels Macro: political, social, cultural context at

national/international levels that enable or hinder

Meso: work of organizations involving volunteers

Micro: actors on the ground, i.e. Volunteers (men

and women); individual and communitybeneficiaries

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Potential of volunteerism in promoting

gender equality

Micro: lever for personal change in attitudes and

practiceshuman rights at home

Meso: volunteerism engages broad community

participationUNV volunteers and community

volunteers address FGM

Macro: recognizing womens contributions in

development planningwomens voice in local

decision-making

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Volunteers perceptions of impact

200 men and women volunteers surveyed:

More than 50% felt their work always oroften had a positive role on gender roles,

womens empowerment, and gender

equality Volunteer voices: WFP volunteer

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Mainstreaming gender into volunteerism Micro: training for volunteers by slightly more than

50% of organisations surveyed; struggle forwomen volunteers in management (21% fewer);

30% of women (11% men) experienced issuesbased on their sex

Meso: into project designIndia disaster riskmanagement

Macro: resource for gender mainstreaming policyimplementationLiberia National Youth VolunteerService gender specialists for Ministry

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Specific religious/cultural/structural environments

Volunteering and womens unpaid work

Shifting responsibilities from the State to communitiesand individualscomplementing versus substituting

Enabling environment for gender and volunteerism

gender sensitive volunteerism policies and infrastructure Specific challenges in fragile states, especially

conflict/post-conflict situations, e.g. women/children arethe majority of internally displaced persons/refugees

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Contextual challenges for gender and

volunteerism

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Implications for VSO/VIOs

Organisati

onal policies and procedures including budgeting, staffing

Volunteer

recruitment, management, and support (sex ratio, conditions of service,

skills development).

Programmi

ng (Project design, gender strategies, guidelines/standards for

mainstreaming)

Monitoring

& Evaluation (Impact assessment methodology, practice lessons)

Knowledge

and alliance building

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1. The effects of gender mainstreaming in

volunteerism

2. Empowerment and inclusion through volunteerism

3. Men and women volunteers striving for gender

equality

4. Gender sensitive study of volunteers support,

recognition and recompense

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Further research topics:

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Questions?

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Discussion

What Gender and Volunteerism knowledge

have you been developing and can share?

Are there suggestions of initiatives for joint

Gender and Volunteerism knowledge and

practice development among participants

here?

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THANK YOU!

Gender Action Team

United Nations Volunteers

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Gender and Volunteerism:

Implications for VSO/VIOs

Organisational policies and procedures

Volunteer recruitment, management, and support

Programming

Monitoring & Evaluation

Knowledge and alliance building

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