Key Highlights:

• UNGA Declaration: Proclaimed via Resolution 78/127.
• Core Philosophy: “Volunteerism” as a pillar of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
• Action Plan: Strengthening local and national volunteer networks for climate resilience.

January 2026 kicks off the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY). The guiding philosophy is “Social Solidarity”—the idea that collective, unpaid action is essential for the survival of the global commons. The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program highlights that volunteerism is the “ultimate expression of human agency.”

The political wave in 2026 focuses on “Inclusion and Impact.” By recognizing formal and informal volunteering, the UN aims to educate governments on how to integrate volunteer work into national GDP accounting. This philosophy suggests that the challenges of the 21st century, from pandemics to climate change, cannot be solved by states alone but require a mobilized, selfless global citizenry.