2008 - April (Ljubljana, Slovenia) - Putting Volunteering on the economic map of Europe

How can we value a smile? Or holding the hand of a patient in hospital? Shall we measure the economic value of volunteering and, if yes, what are the best ways to do it?

 

100 participants from 24 countries, from more then 50 local, regional, national and international organisation as well as universities, local authorities and Slovenian ministries tried to respond to these questions during the CEV conference  ‘Putting Volunteering on the Economic Map of Europe’ organised in cooperation with Slovenska Filantropija, in Ljubljana, Slovenia on the 18-19th of April in the frame of the CEV General Assembly. 

    

The aim of the GA was to:

• Present and discuss the inclusion of economic value of volunteering figures in national statistical accounts (macro level)
• Faclitate discussion between different stakeholders on how to move this debate forward
• Present examples of good practice from CEV member organisations on assessing and measuring the economic value of volunteers’ contribution (micro level) 
• Adopt a CEV position urging EU countries and EUROSTAT to provide data on the economic value of volunteering

 
High levels speakers of the introductory panel session – Lester Salomon from the Johns Hopkins University, Adriana Mata Greenwood from the International Labour Association (ILO), Edith Archambault, emeritus professor from Paris Sorbonne University, Renzo Ranzzano from the Italian volunteer development agency SPES as well as Davor Dominkuš, Director General of the Social Affairs Ministry of the Slovene government - ensured high quality discussions and a full spectrum of views on the recognition of the economic value of volunteering.

 

The topic posed many questions, controversies as well as heated discussions among the CEV members and invited guests. Over recent years, the Johns Hopkins University has been doing research on the contribution of the voluntary sector and volunteering to national economies and their Gross Domestic Product, estimated at an average of 5% in developed countries. In addition, the ILO is currently reviewing its labour force surveys and is considering including questions on volunteer work. Prof. Lester Salomon called upon CEV Members and the volunteer movement to contact the national statistics offices to call for the inclusion of volunteering into the economic statistics of Europe - a historic opportunity that we have now in the framework if ILO’s work.

 

4 simultaneous workshops held during the conference explored and presented best practices, tools and methods for measuring the economic value of volunteering in voluntary organisations on the local level. Participants also had the chance to express their feelings and opinions about measuring volunteering during the Dialogue Café – a special discussion setting developed to provide delegates with the opportunity to identify and discuss issues related to the conference topic in an open, informal and creative manner. Finally, the Strategic Sessions aimed at developing a concrete follow-up for the conference for the CEV Secretariat and all the participants of the event.

 

Participants concluded that: Yes, it is important to measure the economic value of volunteering, not least to convince decision-makers to support the development of volunteering infrastructure and initiatives in Europe. CEV should act as a forum in this area, sharing good practices and the most successful and effective tools of measurement. However, we should not forget what else volunteering provides us with – social cohesion and social capital, active participation, or simply people’s happiness. These remain imeasurable.