Impact

The Australian Volunteers Program’s overarching goal is to support locally led change and the realisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program values volunteering as a powerful means to support achievement of the goals by 2030.

To achieve this objective, the program aims to deliver the following outcomes:

• Support partner organisations to progress their development objectives
• Increase key stakeholders’ appreciation of the value of volunteering
• Increase program participants’ cultural awareness and build stronger connections across countries

In seeking to achieve these aims, we are also guided by the approach and principles set out in the Global Program Strategy. The strategy is framed by and makes an important contribution to Australia’s International Development Policy and the Australian Government’s goal to advance an Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable and prosperous.

We have a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework to measure our progress towards achieving these objectives and having a positive impact on our partner organisations and program participants. This framework describes the program’s approach to measuring impact.

The program’s most recent Annual Report highlights achievements from the last year, progress towards the three outcome areas and lessons learnt. We also regularly share stories about what volunteers and partner organisations are achieving together.

The Australian Volunteers Program also measures its impact through in-depth research and evaluation activities, focusing on different elements of the program. Summaries of these studies are available on the Research and Evaluation page.

Further information on the program, including the most recent independent evaluation of the program, is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.