The Global Volunteering Forum is the most significant global network of organisations that work with volunteers to achieve sustainable development goals. Forum exists to share information, develop good practice and enhance cooperation across the volunteering  and development sector. Forum achieves this through convening, research, and standards as well as the annual conference.  

Forum is a virtual network, with a global membership of 50 organisations, including those involved in development cooperation, non-government and state organisations. 

In 2000 Forum recognised the need for an annual event that focused specifically on bringing together leaders from volunteering agencies, academics, government officials, policymakers, socially-minded corporates and volunteers from around the globe to shed light on the challenges and opportunities—both longstanding and emerging—facing the volunteering in development sector.  

As a result, the first International Volunteer Cooperation Organisations (IVCO) conference was held in 2001 and remains the only annual global gathering that actively shapes and leads global volunteering and development standards. 

The conference is open to all and not limited to Forum members only. 

In 2025, Forum simplified its branding and going forward, both the organisation and the annual conference will be known as the Global Volunteering Forum.

The Global Volunteering Forum (IVCO) is a safe and thought-provoking space dedicated to learning, ideas exchange, building supportive peer networks, and shaping sectoral policy and advocacy initiatives. 

The theme changes each year to reflect the challenges and opportunities of contemporary civil society and the volunteering sector, ensuring the content of each conference is relevant and applicable to its global delegates. 

The Global Volunteering Forum (IVCO) is the only annual gathering of leaders from volunteering agencies, academics, government officials, policymakers, socially-minded corporates and volunteers from around the globe that specifically works to address the relationship between volunteering and development cooperation.  

Together, members explore innovative practice and research key contemporary issues, focusing on organisational learning and improved practice. 

The Global Volunteering Forum is an annual gathering of people from a cross section of the global volunteering and development community. You will meet delegates from volunteering agencies, university academics, independent researchers, government representatives, policymakers, corporate leaders and volunteers. On average over 80 organisations are represented from 40 countries, including the smaller, on-the-ground organisations and those from the Global South that attend with support from Forum’s subsidy scheme. 

The people you meet represent a genuine cross section of the volunteering and development community, which results in a vibrant celebration of connection, collaboration, knowledge exchange and reflection on how volunteering is adapting to today’s realities.  
 

Delegates participate with their peers from around the globe to explore new approaches and reinforce the power of collective action – through panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities, each conference provides a focus on finding solutions to some of our most pressing challenges.  

The conference provides the space to learn from one another, exchange ideas and insights, build supportive peer networks, and help shape sectoral policy and advocacy initiatives, all in a safe and thought-provoking environment. 

Delegates return to their organisations with a view of the future and practical ideas to help address immediate challenges, implement best quality programs, educate peers, and add to their organisation’s leading reputation. 

Each year the conference is hosted by a different Forum member in their home country, adding to the global and idea-rich nature of the Global Volunteering Forum. For example, in 2025,it was hosted by the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia in Siem Reap, Cambodia, while IVCO 2024 was hosted by Northumbria University and Comhlámh in Newcastle in the UK. 

The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Volunteer Year (IVY 2026) to recognize volunteerism as a key driver of sustainable development. The International Volunteer Year 2026 highlights the essential role volunteers play in advancing global goals, fostering resilience, and driving collective progress. Governments, organizations, and communities are encouraged to recognize and support volunteers by creating safe, inclusive environments and integrating volunteering into policies.