measuring the contribution of volunteering to the ... · africa 4% 19% 56% measures of volunteering...
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The Measurement of Volunteering in the Global SouthBev Russell
Social Surveys Africa
Measuring the Contribution of Volunteering to the Sustainable Development Goals
Through insights gained from a extensive study
of volunteering undertaken in South Africa:
This paper explores whether the global
measurement tools developed in the formal
economies of the North are appropriate for the
measurement of volunteering in the Global South
and its contribution to the Sustainable
Development Goals
Importance of measuring volunteering in Africa
Contribution of African volunteering to the SDGs
3
SDGs in Africa are more important than any other region
Addressing: Poverty, hunger, inequality, poor infrastructure, inclusive safe human settlements …..
Rich culture of Volunteering
Greatest impact most vulnerable in society
Use of exogenous measurement tools
Volunteering under measured and undervalued
Importance of measuring volunteering in Africa
If we are going to truly measure the contribution of volunteering towards the SDGs we have to make sure the measurement tools we use in Africa, (almost more than anywhere
else) are truly effective and local voices are heard in their design
Importance of measuring volunteering in Africa
5
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Stats SA/ ILO World Giving Index Social SurveysAfrica
4%
19%
56%
Measures of volunteering in South Africa
Different measures of volunteering in South Africa
❑ There are Critical differences in volunteering behaviours of developed economies of the North and the informal economies of the Global South
❑ Explains inefficiencies of global measurement tools when applied in African Countries
Conceptual Framework
Formal volunteering through classical charities
and NGOs
Measured forms people to people volunteering
(individualist culture)
Formal volunteering through less formalised type of organisations,
associations or groups
Organic / Ubuntu type individual volunteering
(Communal culture)
Formal / recognised forms
Informal / indigenous forms of volunteering
Indirect – to or through an
organisation
Direct peopleto people
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
valued?
undervalued?
Mapping of Individual Volunteering in South Africa
© Social Surveys, 2013
e.g. CBOs
1 2
3 4
Volunteering in Africa: under-measured & undervalued?
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
BlackAfrican
White Asian Other
67%
39%55%
64%
3% 5% 3% 4%
Comparative measures of volunteering by population group
Volunteering (Social Surveys)2013
Volunteering (Stats SA) 2014
CAFSA / Social Surveys Africa
➢ Use of inappropriate vehicles for surveys on volunteering – efficacy of labour force survey?
➢ Use of labels such as ‘volunteering’ and ‘volunteer work’?
So much volunteering is done by unemployed people who don’t consider it to be ‘volunteering’ or ‘work’)
Reciprocal poor to poor giving
6%
16%
45%
15%
4% 5%9%9%
17%
11%
32%
8% 8%
15%
20%
10%
38%
11%
2%
10% 10%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Benefits me -God's
blessings
Duty Have to pulltogether &
support eachother
(Ubuntu)
I believe Ican make adifference
I was askedto
It makes mefeel good
It's the rightthing to do
Motivation for Direct Volunteering
Black African
White
Asian
CAFSA / Social Surveys Africa
Understanding of cultural differences fundamental to the methodology used
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Family notliving with
you
Fosterchildrenunder 25
Friend(s) communitymembers orneighbours
Strangere.g. beggar,car guard
Employeee.g.
domesticworker
14%
7%
14%
69%
6%2%
Direct volunteering by beneficiary type
CAFSA / Social Surveys Africa
Question formulation
‘World Giving Index’ measures direct volunteering as volunteering to a stranger excluding 94% of direct volunteering in South Africa.
Reciprocal poor to poor giving
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
54% 57% 54% 48%
71% 72% 68%
Volunteering by employment category
Social Surveys Africa/ CAFSA
➢ Volunteering not about advantaged to disadvantaged but ordinarypoor people assisting other equally poor people
➢ Contribution to SDGs not only in terms of beneficiaries but in terms of volunteers as well
11
Conclusion
“The SDGs will only succeed … if they can succeed in Africa”Kofi Annan and Graça Machel’s Africa Progress Panel Report, 2015)
So Too
If we cannot measure the contribution of volunteering to the SDGs in Africa we will not be able to measure the contribution of
volunteering to the SDGs at all.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Black African White Asian
53%
18%
27%26% 28%
36%
Type of volunteering by population group
Individual OrganisationCAFSA / Social Survey Africa
Cultural differences in volunteering
➢ Volunteering in not about advantaged to disadvantaged but about reciprocal poor to poor giving
➢ Cultural understanding is fundamental to the measurement of volunteering
➢ Methodologies need to access the informal economy