Understanding Volunteering at Habitat

The research project "Understanding Volunteering at Habitat" is a collaborative project between Northumbria University's Centre for Global Development and the Volunteer and Institutional Engagement (VIE) team at Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI). At Northumbria, the project is led by Professor Matt Baillie Smith and Dr Bianca Fadel.

This collaboration started in 2023 and is currently in its third phase. It aims to understand Habitat for Humanity’s volunteering strategies and the value of volunteers in the organisation, as well as how volunteer engagement can lead to greater programme impacts and sustainable development. The work is primarily focused on Habitat for Humanity’s global (non-US) work that integrates volunteering and volunteer engagement.

The first phase involved analysing secondary data and relevant academic and policy literature, conducting online scoping interviews and participatory workshops with Habitat staff, and carrying out an online survey with current and former volunteers in order to gain a thorough understanding of volunteering at Habitat. 

The second phase focused on mapping and analysing Habitat's local volunteering activities across its entire network of organisations in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and the Middle East. This phase also aimed to improve understanding of the journeys of volunteers at Habitat, including what motivates them to start and continue engaging with the organisation. This was particularly explored through a collaborative case study with Habitat for Humanity Ireland, which involved interviewing volunteers and staff and holding participatory workshops.  

The current phase of the collaboration is focusing on supporting defining, measuring and communicating the transformational impact of Habitat volunteering through a co-designed, evidence-based approach involving multiple countries.

For more information about the research, please contact Dr Bianca Fadel at Northumbria University, or Raaida Mannaa at Habitat for Humanity.