Forum Discussion Paper 2014 Convergence and International Volunteer Cooperation

This is the fourteenth in a series of discussion papers produced by the International Forum for Volunteering in Development (Forum), which follows on from our research work on trends in international volunteering and cooperation in recent years. One of the key areas identified for the IVCO conference in 2014 is the issue of International Volunteer and Cooperation Organisations (IVCOs) in a converging world: a world where cross-sector collaboration among IVCOs, governments, companies and donors is a current trend. This paper aims to look at the emergence of convergence as a theme in international volunteering, explore processes and outcomes of cross-sector collaboration, and identify some challenges and learnings for the future.