Under the patronage and in the presence of Her Excellency Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of MSDF, the Ministry of Social Development and Family launched the National Volunteerism Lab. The launch coincided with International Volunteer Day and saw the participation of representatives from government, private, and youth volunteer organizations across Qatar.

The launch of the Lab is part of MSDF’s ongoing efforts to strengthen national partnerships, develop the volunteer sector, and empower youth and specialized entities to shape the future of volunteerism in the country.

In her opening remarks, Her Excellency emphasized that volunteering is not a secondary activity but a fundamental pillar in strengthening social and family cohesion. She noted that it is essential for building a society capable of contribution and development. MSDF plays a pivotal role in organizing and developing the volunteer sector to ensure its readiness, sustainability, and positive impact.

Her Excellency stated that the National Volunteerism Lab serves as a new space for dialogue, development, and creativity between the public, private, and youth sectors. The goal is to unify efforts, align with national priorities, and establish shared mechanisms. "The success of this initiative depends on the insights and recommendations provided by the working groups and the cooperation of our partners from various entities, whom we thank for their presence and response," she added.

The National Volunteerism Lab is an interactive program implemented in several stages with representatives from various volunteer centers and entities in the state. The model generates practical ideas and proposals to build an organized, sustainable, and impactful volunteer sector. This is achieved by bringing together stakeholders in a shared development space utilizing two key methodologies: Design Thinking and Social Labs.

The program contributes to activating national trends and enhancing integration between the government, private, and youth sectors through specialized workstations. Its primary objectives include:

• Launching a qualitative national initiative to mark International Volunteer Day.
• Enhancing coordination between different sectors in the field of volunteerism.
• Reaching a consensus on shared national priorities that support the National Strategy for Volunteerism.

The inauguration of the Lab aims to strengthen national coordination, develop the volunteerism ecosystem through shared mechanisms, and generate practical solutions that support an organized and sustainable sector. This initiative is a key component of MSDF’s strategic projects, aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030, the Third National Development Strategy (2024–2030), and the MSDF Strategy (2025–2030).

The Lab’s activities focused on four main pillars: Policies and Procedures, Innovative Volunteering Opportunities, the National Volunteering Platform, and National Volunteering Campaigns. A team of experts and facilitators supported participants in formulating actionable visions and solutions, which will be compiled and transformed into practical recommendations within the outputs of the national volunteerism system.