UN Report highlights the need for increased professionalism in volunteer management

A recent report to the General Assembly of the United Nations by the Secretary General highlighted that the "Recognition of volunteerism is being accompanied by calls for increased professionalism in formal volunteering management". It further stated that – "At the same time, volunteering-involving organisations seek maximum benefits from people willing to volunteer and are keen therefore to apply strategic management techniques to recruiting, training supporting and retaining volunteers".

The Secretary Generals report was in response to a UN resolution to follow-up and report on developments since the International Year of Volunteers in 2000. The report went on to say – "Alongside the drive for greater professionalism in managing volunteers is growing interest in introducing or strengthening measures such as volunteering-friendly policies and legislation, tools for measuring economic contributions, service volunteer schemes and volunteer centre. Private-sector interest in employee volunteering as an expression of corporate social responsibility is well established in many developed countries. Founded on the notion of reciprocal benefits, this interest is emerging in developing countries in the form of schemes that build employee skills, increase employee loyalty to their companies and raise company profiles in the communities served".