Volunteers play an essential role in shaping our society. Their contributions have significantly advanced the social and economic development of nations, offering vital support to communities and organizations in need.

However, the lack of a formal system to recognize, measure, and reward volunteer efforts has greatly hindered the expansion and impact of volunteerism. As a result, the invaluable contributions of volunteers often go unnoticed, underappreciated, and in some cases exploited without proper compensation within the broader social economy.

In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution urging governments to "establish the economic value of volunteering," with the involvement of civil society. This call to action underscores the importance of accrediting and evaluating the contributions of volunteers to foster civic engagement and productivity.

In response, Voluntary Aid and Development Organisation (VADO) is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMLE) to support the government in measuring, recognizing, and incentivizing formal volunteer work. We are spearheading this effort through a groundbreaking initiative called LABOUR VOUCHER (LV)—a time-crediting technology designed to formally credit and reward citizens or organizations for their voluntary activities.