In a recent workshop organized by VSO, the Global Volunteering Standard took center stage, shedding light on its evolution and significance within the voluntary sector. In the workshop, different governmental as well as non-governmental organizations engaged and shared their ideas. Initially launched in 2019 in Kigali, Rwanda, the standard was later revamped in 2021 to encompass a broader range of services. While not mandatory, these standards are highly recommended to be adhered to by voluntary organizations. The Global Volunteering Standard operates through comprehensive program cycles focusing on designing and delivering projects, ensuring duty of care, managing volunteers effectively, and measuring impact. Its overarching aim is to promote learning improvement, consolidate existing good practices, complement frameworks, facilitate experience sharing among organizations, and foster responsible volunteering. Central to the Global Volunteering Standard are three key pillars: Volunteering in development creates an environment where volunteers can provide support, impactful volunteering works on education and awareness creation for the public, especially the youth, and responsible volunteering can provide empowerment in finance, resources, and training. Advocating for the establishment of a national volunteering network, Emphasizing the need to prioritize volunteering, Highlighting the importance of a governmental document outlining requirements that were recently ratified and translated into the Oromo language alongside Amharic, Encouraging volunteer organizations to expand their reach beyond Addis Ababa into regional areas, Addressing financial constraints faced by organizations through initiatives like the Civil Society Support Fund, which provided substantial support to at-risk organizations, etc. were the points in the panel discussion. In addition to that, Advocating for the issuance of volunteer certificates to participants, potentially influencing job criteria in the future, Urging organizations to engage more meaningfully with communities, particularly on critical issues such as addiction and racial conflict, Stressing the importance of public exposure and effective reporting to stakeholders to enhance engagement and transparency, issues were raised and discussed pertinently. Stay tuned for more updates and initiatives in the realm of global volunteering standards and practices!