Our research

Research plays a critical role in helping us understand and improve our work reducing poverty.

Research highlights

Some of our research highlights include:

VSO Position Paper on Disability Engagement 2021

We recognise that persons with disabilities are excluded from development processes, face challenges in accessing basic services (including health, education and livelihoods) and are denied opportunities to participate in social, civic, economic and cultural life.

VSO sees disability inclusion as a development goal and a human rights issue. This position paper explains why disability inclusion is a priority for VSO and how we intentionally promote disability inclusion through our programmes and across our organisation.

VSO Disability Inclusion position paper (PDF, 5.71 MB)

VSO Position Paper on Gender-Based Violence 2021

Our strategic priorities emphasise the importance of achieving quality outcomes for those most affected by marginalisation and poverty and creating spaces for those who are most excluded to plan, implement, advocate for and monitor change. As an indicator of sustainable and people-centred development, gender equality is an area of focus for us.

Acknowledging that gender-based violence (GBV) is a barrier to this commitment, a human rights issue and undermines the effectiveness of the programmes, we have developed this position paper to highlight our approach to GBV as integral to our goal for achieving gender equality and social inclusion and outline strategies to prevent, mitigate gender-based violence.

VSO Gender-Based Violence position paper (PDF, 5.84 MB)

VSO Position Paper on Social Inclusion and Gender 2021

We believe that every individual has the equal right to fully participate, without limitation, in all areas of
life. Our continued investment in social inclusion and gender equality throughout all of our development programmes is strong evidence of our commitment to advancing the rights and equality of marginalised groups in all the areas in which we work.

This document details our position and strategy on social inclusion and gender, including key policies and commitments. It builds upon our earlier position paper developed in 2018 and our work throughout the past three years.

VSO Social Inclusion and Gender position paper (PDF, 9.07 MB)

Understanding Inequalities in Volunteering Research and Evidence 

VSO in partnership with Forum, produces this paper based on a study commissioned by the International Forum for Volunteering in Development (Forum) with two objectives. First, to deepen its members’ collective understanding of inequalities in volunteering research, their root causes and how they are manifested; and
second, to use this improved understanding to propose concrete ways in which a range of actors
in the volunteering research space can address these inequalities. In addressing these objectives, we formulated the following research questions:

  1. Why is there inequality in volunteering research?
  2. How does inequality in volunteering research manifest?
  3. Based on the findings from the two questions, what concrete proposals can be made in which a range of actors in the volunteering research space can address inequality in volunteering research?

Download Understanding Inequalities in Volunteering Research and Evidence (PDF, 951KB)

Responsible and Impactful Volunteering

The International Forum for Volunteering in Development (Forum) and VSO in a leading role have developed the Global Standard for Volunteering in Development.

As part of VSO's organisational commitment to implement quality standards in volunteering, a learning study was carried out in 2021 that identified the complexity of the Global Standard and hence, the need for its simplification to be used, particularly by smaller Global South VIOs.

VSO has developed the Responsible & Impactful Volunteering (R&I) Index to establish best practice across VSO projects in volunteering and to learn the extent of progress towards specific volunteering indicators related to design, implementation and measurement that are evident in VSO-supported projects.

Download the Responsible and Impactful Volunteering Synthesis Report (PDF, 453KB)

VSO Partner Survey 2023

In 2022, VSO run the first of what has become an annual partnership survey. The survey aims to obtain feedback form partners on their experience of working with VSO and areas where the partnership approach can be improved. Most partners indicated that their partnership experience has been positive.

Download the VSO Partner Survey 2023

Green Jobs, Skills and Enterprises: Research, documentation, approaches and recommendations

Green jobs are one of the priorities of the Resilient Livelihoods Practice Area strategy. The aim is
to support creation of decent employment opportunities for young women and men in the green
economy, focusing on sustainability and climate change adaptation. This document has been
pulled together as part of an effort by VSO to deepen its understanding of current discourse and
approaches around green economy.

Download the full report: Green Jobs, Skills and Enterprises (8.4MB)

Volunteering Together: Blending knowledge and skills for development

Blended volunteering is a flagship approach for VSO in the field, differentiating its work from other volunteer-involving organisations. It brings together volunteers from the local community and other parts of the global South alongside volunteers from the global North with the aim that their collective experiences can be synergised on projects to maximise impact.

This collaborative research project between VSO and the Centre for International Development at Northumbria University, examines how such blends have operated in three case study locations: Tanzania, Uganda and Nepal.

Read an executive summary of the report findings

Women of Barmm: Gender, Peace, and Security Towards Normalisation of Major MILF Camps in Mindanao, Philippines

Want to know more about VSO's Transforming Fragilities programme in the Philippines?

Read this beautifully presented research report which explores the gender, peace and security situation of women in 3 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camps in Mindanao.

Download the full report: Women of Barmm: Gender, Peace, and Security Towards Normalisation of Major MILF Camps in Mindanao, Philippines (7.53MB)

Rapid research: VSO youth networks' response to COVID-19

This report shares findings from rapid research aimed at exploring the impact, actions, approaches,
challenges and suggestions of VSO’s youth networks in response to COVID-19 across three countries:
Kenya, the Philippines and Sierra Leone.

Download the full report: VSO youth networks' response to COVID-19 (PDF, 2 MB)

Download the summary: VSO youth networks' response to COVID-19 (PDF, 637 KB)

Youth insights: The impact of COVID-19 on young people and their participation in the response

Research carried out between April and July 2020 gathered stories from nearly 300 young people from 19 different countries, exploring both how young people are being affected by COVID-19, and how they are responding to its impacts on their lives.

Download the full report: The impact of COVID-19 on young people and their participation in the response (PDF, 519 KB)

Download the summary: The impact of COVID-19 on young people and their participation in the response (PDF, 922 KB)

Livelihoods programming and the Capability Approach

This research collaboration worked with selected programmes to explore about how the Capability Approach can help VSO deliver its People First Strategy in livelihood programming.

Livelihoods programming and the Capability Approach

Impact beyond volunteering

This study explores how the experience of volunteering creates lasting changes in VSO volunteers themselves, impacting their future behaviour, career choices and influence on others.

It draws on data from more than 2,700 volunteer alumni from across Africa, Asia and Europe, finding that the majority of volunteers are more socially active as a result of their experience.

Impact beyond volunteering

Valuing volunteering: The role of volunteering in sustainable development

Volunteer researchers worked in four countries (the Philippines, Kenya, Nepal and Mozambique), using participatory action methods to determine the unique value of volunteering in international development.

Most previous studies have focused on the effect volunteering has on the volunteers themselves, but there has been little documentation of the impact volunteering creates. VSO has always believed that people are the best agents of change, and this research now provides evidence for volunteers’ unique contribution in reducing poverty.

Valuing volunteering

Wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic: How are primary actors coping

This study focuses on understanding four critically interrelated components: social group identity, their socio-economic condition due to the COVID-19 crisis, their differential access to basic services and their priority needs – across VSO’s programmes, thematic areas and programme geographies.

Download the full report: Wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF, 573 KB)

Download the summary: Wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF, 293 KB)

Disability inclusion through the Washington Group Questions: VSO's programme experience

The Washington Group Questions were developed through a consultative process led by the UN in 2001 and have been a significant innovation for disability inclusion. This paper briefly outlines VSO’s experiences using the Washington Group Questions in identifying, including and reporting disability data.

Download Disability inclusion through the Washington Group Questions (PDF, 226 KB)

Understanding community volunteering in VSO programmes: An evidence-based case study from Cambodia's IMA4P livelihoods project

This case study focuses on mapping community volunteering within the IMA4P (Improving Market Access for the Poor) livelihoods project in Cambodia. It seeks to understand the contribution of volunteering, how volunteering impacts community volunteers, and the challenges and support required to ensure community volunteering is sustainable.

Download Understanding community volunteering in VSO programmes (PDF, 934 KB)

Wellbeing survey report: An assessment of vulnerability and inequality in the context of COVID-19 in Nepal

A wellbeing survey, completed by primary actors in ten districts of Nepal, investigates the interplay of four critically interrelated components in the context of COVID-19: individual/group identity, gaps due to the crisis, access to services, and priority needs.

Key findings include the scale of food shortages, mental health concerns, and an increase in cases of gender-based violence. Access to all services was curtailed by lockdown, with education suffering the greatest impact - 75% of respondents reported having no access to any education at all.

The results of this study will inform our future programming and policy recommendations, with a focus on improving access to health, education and livelihoods services for the poorest and most marginalised people.

Download the Wellbeing survey in Nepal report (PDF)

Psychosocial Support Project in Ethiopia: What worked, why did it work and what can we learn?

Research from February 2020 examines the successes of our Psychosocial Support Project for primary school children and teachers impacted by internal conflict in Ethiopia, in terms of improved student learning outcomes and mental health indicators.

Download the Psychosocial Support Project in Ethiopia summary (PDF)

Sisters for Sisters' Education in Nepal: Current situation of communities and educational institutions during the COVID-19 crisis

Research undertaken to understand some of the factors affecting our primary actors in our girls' education programme in Nepal. Foremost in our minds was identifying any children in immediate danger. However, we also wanted to investigate the feasibility of various alternative strategies which could be of interest to project, and policy planners.

Download the Current situation of communities and educational institutions during the COVID-19 crisis report (PDF)

Making change: An exploration into volunteer contributions to social accountability in VSO

Research conducted by IDS-VSO Social Accountability Learning Partnership examines the ways in which VSO volunteers are contributing to social accountability outcomes across our programmes.

Download the Making change report (PDF)

Engaging men: Lessons from programmes promoting the involvement of men to improve health outcomes for women, children and men

This paper considers the role of men and boys in improving their own health outcomes, their role as partners and fathers, and their role as change agents within the community and wider society. It draws on case studies from programmes in Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Papua New Guinea.

Download the Engaging men report (PDF)

IVCO papers

IVCO 2018 theme paper: Inclusive development practice for youth

As one of a series of papers exploring the 2018 conference theme 'Women and youth: bridging the gap – volunteering for inclusive development', this paper provides a brief summary of current trends in youth development, with a particular focus on volunteering for development.

Download the IVCO 2018: Inclusive development practice for youth paper (PDF)

IVCO 2017 sub-theme paper: Enabling environment

This paper focuses on the sub-theme 'enabling environment', and what this means for international volunteering for development and its role in implementing Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Download the IVCO 2017: Enabling environment paper (PDF)

IVCO 2017 sub-theme paper: Measurement

This paper focuses on the sub-theme 'measurement', and what this means for international volunteering for development and its role in implementing Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Download the IVCO 2017: Measurement paper (PDF)

Nepal: Mother tongue multilingual education report

As part of an ongoing partnership between the Language Commission of Nepal and VSO, a recent study on mother tongue based multilingual education takes a magnifying glass to selected schools in the Nepali municipalities of Temal and Phidim.

Mother tongue multilingual education report

Sustainable Development Goals Disability Tracker II: "Nothing about us, without us"

Exploring the experiences of people with disabilities in conflict and post-conflict situations in the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District, India, in the context of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Download the Sustainable Development Goals Disability Tracker II report (PDF)

Rapid assessment on the status of the quarantines: Strengthening access to holistic, gender responsive, and accountable justice in Nepal (SAHAJ)

COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented challenge for marginalised and vulnerable groups such as women, children, people living in poverty and people with disabilities.

To assess the status of the quarantines in SAHAJ working palikas in Province 2 and 5 of Nepal, this is an evidence-based survey finding to understand the situation of the quarantines which will help to develop the measures to support them.

Download the Rapid assessment on the status of the quarantines in Nepal report (PDF)

Further information

For more information, or to access our full publications list, contact Miriam Karim, Knowledge and Learning Coordinator: miriam.karim@vsoint.org