Trends in International Co-operation and Volunteering, 2001 – 2006

For a number of years Forum has undertaken a survey of its members to understand and share what is happening in international volunteering throughout the world. We then found ourselves in a position to take a longer view and commissioned Development Initiatives to produce a review over a five year period. Development Initiatives had also undertaken an annual review in 2005 and have brought their considerable knowledge of development issues in understanding trends in international volunteering. As a result of this process we realised the real enormity of this task of trying to reflect back all of the trends on developing international volunteering in essentially a short paper. We thank Development Initiatives for contributing their valuable insights which we encourage you to read and reflect on. The views expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of Forum or its members or of the organisations for whom the author works. The responsibility for these views rests with the author alone.

Cliff Allum,
President of Forum