By: Belinda Nketia
Stakeholders in youth development on 25th May, 2026 gathered at the British Council in Accra for a national consultation on the proposed Commonwealth Volunteer Program (CVP).
The CVP is a structured initiative aimed at addressing youth unemployment and service delivery gaps across member states.
The Commonwealth Volunteer Program is a proposed time-bound initiative that targets young people aged 18 to 35 across Commonwealth countries. It is designed to recruit, train, deploy and certify volunteers into frontline service roles in sectors including education, health, climate and environment, economic empowerment, and peace and security.
The consultation brought together government officials, youth leaders, development partners, civil society organizations and private sector representatives to review the design and proposed implementation of the program ahead of its expected pilot rollout later this year.
The session was held under the theme “Mobilising Youth for Development, Livelihoods and Public Service.”
Among those present were Bridget Nana Yaa Wilson, National Youth Delegate for Ghana, who represents Ghanaian youth perspectives in Commonwealth youth engagements; Rosy Schaneck, Africa Region Representative of the Commonwealth Youth Council, who supports youth coordination and policy engagements across the continent; and Archibald Donkor, Director of Programmes at the National Youth Authority, who oversees national youth development programming and implementation. Also in attendance was Nicolars Tembwe, Director for Youth at the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Namibia, who leads government coordination on youth development policy.
Chair of the Commonwealth Youth Council, Joshua Opey, said Ghana was the first country to express interest in the volunteer program, led by the Ghana’s Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare Addo George Opare Addo.
Joshua Opey described this move as a strong indication of national commitment to youth empowerment and structured pathways to public service.
The program is intended to respond to two pressing challenges across member states: high youth unemployment and persistent gaps in essential public services. It introduces a “service-to-career” pathway intended to transition participants from structured volunteer service into employment opportunities in the public, private and civic sectors.
Officials and participants at the consultation said the initiative should be grounded in local realities to ensure relevance and impact. They pointed out the need for clear recruitment systems, inclusive participation, structured training, and sustainable incentives for volunteers.
Joshua Opey said the programme is designed to bridge the gap between unemployment and national development needs by positioning young people as active contributors to service delivery while building skills and professional experience.
The CVP is currently in its consultation phase, which runs between May and July 2025, ahead of a planned pilot rollout expected later in the year. Similar engagements have been held across selected international platforms as part of broader stakeholder consultations, with Ghana hosting one of the national-level sessions.
Participants used the session to raise questions and offer recommendations on recruitment, inclusivity, training models, volunteer support systems and long-term sustainability. The Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) responded with clarifications on the proposed governance and implementation framework.
Discussions also highlighted the role of governments, NGOs, educational institutions, health facilities, development partners and private sector actors in hosting volunteers during deployment.
The programme is expected to generate country-specific recommendations to guide implementation, identify priority sectors, and strengthen institutional partnerships ahead of the pilot phase.
If implemented, the Commonwealth Volunteer Programme will operate across 56 member countries, with volunteer placements lasting between three and 24 months and a target of 50% female participation.
The initiative, still in its design phase, is being positioned as a structured effort to transform youth volunteering into a recognised pathway for skills development, employment and civic engagement across the Commonwealth.
