IVCO

Think Piece Authors: Ms. Lina Leav, Ms. Phyu Sin Oo, Mr. Jürgen Deile are staff and volunteers who serve with the Civil Peace Service (CPS) at the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia.

We are halfway to 2030 and the end date for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). There cannot be successful development without peace and civil engagement, and therefore there is a need to unite sustainable development in strengthening civil society and sustainable peacebuilding.  

Sustainable peacebuilding is specified in SDG 16 – a goal which promises the achievement of more equitable, inclusive, and less violent societies. But what we see is different and indeed we recently experienced military combat between Cambodia and Thailand, not far from our IVCO venue. Processes that limit violence, access to justice and peaceful societies are stagnating or in reverse worldwide. Worse, the necessity for an organised civil society is increasingly being questioned by governments.  

Through active participation in civil society activities, volunteers build up social capital, support democratic values, and contribute to reducing the potential for conflict. Volunteerism is also a powerful tool to support the achievement of the SDGs. 

The journey from IVCO 2024 to IVCO 2025 means: from Volunteering for Solidarity to Volunteering for Strengthening Civil Society. To quote the IVCO 2024 think piece by Amjad Saleem of IFRC, ‘The concept of solidarity provides a useful starting point for volunteer-involving organisations to be more sensitive to diverse forms of volunteerism and how they can support communities in crisis and disasters to be stronger catalysts for resilience.’ 

Voluntary service as relational peacebuilding can be described as a process to strengthen human relationships between individuals, communities, and cultures — a necessity for peaceful living and sustainable development. 

Volunteering and Relational Peacebuilding    

Sustainable development must be accompanied by sustainable peacebuilding, and it needs to be applied in all societies. Sustainable peacebuilding aims at learning to address conflict without violence. Every culture has something to teach and something to learn about peacebuilding. Intercultural learning of sustainable peacebuilding therefore finds an appropriate instrument in relational peacebuilding through international volunteering.    

Relational Peacebuilding processes require a combination of approaches to peace. Volunteer service can be the centre of strengthening civil society and promoting peace at all levels. Peacebuilders are not usually aware of how other approaches could complement their own initiatives, so the exchange of experiences is essential.   

Civil society has been a propelling force supporting the peacebuilding efforts of governmental institutions. Therefore, United Nations agencies have issued statements of their intentions to further its commitment to strengthening the capabilities of civil society. These intentions bring people together in pursuit of common goals, foster social cohesion, and promote unity amongst communities.  

Volunteering as a pillar of Civil Society   

Volunteering is one of the central aspects of civil society because it facilitates the active engagement of citizens in societal processes. There are several mechanisms available through which voluntary services strengthen civil society:   

• Building Social Capital: Volunteering brings people with varying social, cultural, and ethnic profiles together to create web-like networks of trusting and respecting one another. 
• Fostering Participation for Sustainable Peacebuilding: Volunteer services mobilise citizens to interact with social processes and take ownership to decrease structural violence as much as possible. It creates space for active citizen engagement. 
• Strengthening Social Cohesion: Volunteering is an essential driver of social cohesion. It fosters community spirit and a sense of belonging.    

Volunteering as Professional Peace Work 

Volunteer programmes like the German Civil Peace Service can contribute positively to peace efforts by applying skills and knowledge in areas like: 

• Conflict Prevention and Management  
• Development and Peace to overcome structural violence 
• Post-Conflict Development and Reconstruction 

Volunteering complements government efforts in development and peace work. While volunteers build bridges between different groups through their presence and engagement on the ground, they can also bring the necessary expertise to develop sustainable solutions to complex problems.  

Challenges and Success Factors   

Despite its value, volunteering faces challenges like limited resources, security threats, administrative obstacles and cultural resistance. To ensure the success of volunteering and achieve maximum positive impact on civil society and peace efforts, several success factors like long-term planning, working with local partners and capacity building and knowledge transfer can be identified. 

Conclusion   

Lastly, volunteers play a priceless part in creating a resilient civil society and peace initiatives. Volunteers create networks of trust, engage in participatory development, and strengthen social cohesion. They build bridges between different groups and carry professional competences to find lasting solutions to complex issues. Volunteering is crucial in the pursuit of fostering peace and stability in the world and achieving the SDGs by 2030.

Think Piece Authors: Ms. Lina Leav, Ms. Phyu Sin Oo, Mr. Jürgen Deile are staff and volunteers who serve with the Civil Peace Service (CPS) at the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia, advancing peacebuilding, dialogue, and capacity development.