IVCO

Authors: Dr. Sathish Rao Appalanaidu and Fazirah Naser

The conference report ‘Strengthening Civil Society in Challenging Times’ captures key themes from the 2025 International Volunteer Cooperation Organisations Conference (IVCO 2025). It reflects the collaborative efforts of the IVCO 2025 Organising Team. IVCO was organised by the Global Volunteering Forum with co-hosts the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC) and in partnership with Australian Volunteers International (AVI), France Volontaires and VSO Cambodia.
The report was written by Dr. Sathish Rao Appalanaidu and Fazirah Naser, with the support of conference facilitators who assisted with note-taking and documentation: Yakshika Vats, Kathleen Cass and Maia Baillie Smith.

The paper is an invitation for readers to revisit the IVCO 2025 themes, key learnings and takeaways. It explores pressing global challenges and the vital contribution that volunteers make to strengthening civil society, and explores how they can be better supported as they navigate increasingly complex and restrictive environments.