Countries where VSO sends volunteers
VSO currently works in over 40 disadvantaged countries, primarily in Africa and Asia, but also in the Asia-Pacific islands and in South America. Over the past 50 years of experience, VSO has worked in a total of over 120 developing countries all over the world.
VSO works in the most disadvantaged countries where volunteers can make a significant contribution and where it is safe for them to have programmes. In each country, VSO staff from the local office work with local partner organisations to develop a country strategic plan (CSP) that guides their work. This plan focuses on several of VSO's development goal areas.
Local partners are locally based organisations with whom VSO works to achieve common objectives. This can include both national NGOs; international NGOs where the relationship is managed within the country; government agencies, and the private sector. Local partners range from small grass roots organisations to government departments or international NGOs working in any of VSO's countries of focus. Each partner will have identified a need within their organisation for some additional resource and support in carrying out their activities.
VSO currently works in:
- Bangladesh
- Bolivia
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- China
- El Savador
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- India
- Indonesia
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Sierra Leone
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Thailand & Burma
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
For an up-todate interactive map of country programes and specific development goals for each of these countries please visit the VSO UK website. Please note that South American countries, with the exception of Guyana, are currently available only for Canadian and American volunteers, but this situation might change soon.
Why we don’t work in ALL developing countries:
Although VSO has worked in a total of 120 countries in the past, in recent years we’ve reduced the number of countries we have volunteer programmes in. We’re now focusing on 40 of the poorest countries in Africa and Asia. While there are very poor communities in South America and Eastern Europe, those regions are quite well developed in relation to parts of Africa and Asia. Having a strong regional presence in Africa and Asia means our work is more efficient. We look at each country on a case-by-case basis and assess whether or not VSO’s strategic approach would make a real difference to its development. We also focus on countries where it’s practical for us to operate within our areas of competence, and where skills shortages are greatest. By focusing our resources, we can maximise the impact our volunteers make at all levels, from grass roots to government.
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Note: Please avoid contacting VSO with requests to be placed in a specific country of your choice. In each of these countries, VSO focuses on different development objectives and thus places volunteers with different professional skills. Also, the demand for volunteers keeps changing in time. As a consequence, VSO cannot offer volunteer placements in all skill areas, in all of these countries, at all times. VSO's main objective is to place volunteers where their skills are most needed, thus we ask volunteers for a lot of flexibility regarding the country they will be placed in. You will, however, be offered 2-3 options and VSO will try to adjust to your preferences within the limits of the demand for your skills in those countries.
