Volunteering in Montenegro is conducted under the conditions and in the manner prescribed by the Law on Voluntary Work.

Voluntary work is defined as the voluntary and unpaid investment of time, knowledge, and skills to perform services or activities for the benefit of another person or for the general well-being of society. Voluntary work is carried out without the right to receive a salary, financial compensation, or other material benefit, unless otherwise specified by law.

A volunteer is a person who voluntarily and without compensation provides voluntary services.

A volunteer may be a Montenegrin or foreign natural person who is capable of working, or a person with a disability who is trained for a specific voluntary activity.

A volunteering organiser can be a: state body, administrative authority, local self-government body, institution in the field of social and child protection, healthcare, culture, sport, religious community, domestic or international non-governmental organisation registered in Montenegro, as well as other domestic or foreign legal entities whose goal is not to generate or increase profit, in accordance with this Law and applicable international obligations( Law on Voluntary Work).

Volunteering represents an important mechanism for social integration, personal development, and active participation of youth in society. In Montenegro, volunteering is regulated by the Law on Voluntary Work, which defines the conditions, rights and obligations of both volunteers and the organisers of voluntary activities (Mladiinfo.me, 2024).

In Montenegro, there are opportunities for volunteering both within local communities and in organisations working in fields such as humanitarian aid, environmental protection, social care, culture, education, and many others.

Areas of volunteer engagement

1. Humanitarian Work

Montenegro is home to a wide network of civil society organisations actively engaged in supporting vulnerable groups such as individuals living in poverty, refugees, the elderly, children, and persons with disabilities.

Volunteers contribute through:

• Distribution of food, clothing, and medicines

• Assistance in shelters

• Organisation of fundraising campaigns

Example (October 1, 2024): The Volunteers of Montenegro Foundation distributed 150 aid packages, worth approximately €3,500, in Nikšić, Šavnik, Podgorica, and Bar. The initiative addressed the urgent needs of vulnerable citizens and was supported by media and institutional reporting ( Vijesti.me article). 

2. Environmental Protection

Volunteers in Montenegro actively contribute to the preservation of nature and the promotion of ecological awareness.

Key activities include:

• Clean-up actions on beaches, forests, and rivers

• Educational workshops on ecology and sustainability

• Public awareness campaigns on climate chang

Example (2024): Within the international programme Let’s Do It Mediterranean, clean-up actions were carried out in several locations, including Nikšić and Tivat. These were coordinated by local volunteer groups and promoted through platforms such as Volonteri Crne Gore (Let’s Do It Mediterranean).

1. Social Protection

Volunteering in the field of social protection targets support to socially vulnerable individuals and families.
Forms of engagement include:

• Emotional and psychological support

• Assistance with daily living activities

• Organisation of group workshops and integration sessions

Example: In cooperation with the Day Centre in Pljevlja, UNICEF Montenegro and youth volunteers provided care and advocacy for children with developmental disabilities (Volunteer Services in Pljevlja). 

2. Culture and Education

Volunteers also contribute significantly to cultural and educational development through:

• Organising cultural events, exhibitions, and festivals

• Promoting reading and educational engagement among youth

• Assisting with activities in museums and libraries

Example (May 2025): Mladiinfo Montenegro mobilised a team of youth volunteers during the 2025 Podgorica Book Fair (7–13 May), contributing to event logistics and public engagement
( Mladiinfo call for volunteers,  Support page for Book Fair volunteering). 

3. Community-Based Volunteering

Community-based volunteering strengthens local development and solidarity at the grassroots level.
Engagement takes place in:

• Schools: supporting teaching, extracurricular activities, schoolyard improvements

• Care homes: organising recreational and social activities for elderly residents

• Libraries and museums: assisting with events and public outreach

• Sports clubs: supporting training logistics and youth engagement

• Eco initiatives: clean-up actions and community education on sustainability

Example (2024–2025): In Tivat, volunteers from the local Day Centre organised environmental workshops, clean-up actions along the coast, and various inclusive activities to promote community awareness ( Day Centre Tivat activities).

Historical development of volunteering in Montenegro

Volunteering in Montenegro has deep roots in traditional forms of mutual aid, most notably the practice of moba—a collective effort by community members to assist with tasks that exceed the capacity of an individual or family, such as harvesting or house building. This practice, still observed in some rural areas, reflects a deeply ingrained spirit of solidarity and communal cooperation (Promente Social Research.  UNV2 short report ). 

Following World War II, volunteering became institutionalised through the so-called Youth Work Actions (Omladinske radne akcije – ORA). Young people from across the former Yugoslavia gathered to build public infrastructure, acquiring work habits, practical skills, and social connections. Although state-organised, these actions were often viewed by participants as valuable opportunities for community service and personal growth (Promente Social Research. UNV2 short report ). 

In the 1990s, with the disintegration of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the onset of political and economic transition, public trust in institutions significantly eroded. This decline impacted volunteering negatively. In response to the emerging humanitarian and social crises, numerous non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were established. Organisations such as ANIMA (Kotor), the SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence (Podgorica and Nikšić), and the Montenegrin Women’s Lobby became key actors in supporting vulnerable populations (Vijesti, 2023).

Young people also became involved through informal groups and newly emerging NGOs, often driven by the desire to assist their communities or express civic values. This period marked a turning point in the development of contemporary volunteerism in Montenegro (Promente Social Research. UNV2 short report ). 

A major advancement in regulating and protecting volunteer engagement was the adoption of the Law on Voluntary Work in 2013. This law legally defined volunteering, volunteers, and the obligations of volunteer organisers. It also set forth conditions under which voluntary work can be organised, as well as the rights and protections of those involved in such activities (Law on Voluntary Work, 2013).

Despite this important legal foundation, volunteering in Montenegro still faces several challenges. These include the lack of long-term programmes, the limited recognition of volunteers in formal systems, and insufficient institutional support (Vijesti, 2023).

The Association for Democratic Prosperity – Zid (ADP-Zid), a leading actor in promoting volunteerism since 2000, has implemented numerous national and international volunteering programmes. Through training, exchange, and campaign coordination, the organisation has engaged over 500 trained volunteers and initiated more than 40 local volunteer services, including prominent campaigns such as “Let’s Do It Montenegro!” (ADA ZID).

Additionally, the Red Cross of Montenegro has continuously emphasised the importance of enhancing the legal and institutional framework for volunteering—particularly in the context of crises such as natural disasters or pandemics, where volunteers play a crucial role in community response (Vijesti, 2023).

Volunteering in Montenegro has a rich and evolving tradition—from informal community solidarity to structured civil and legal initiatives. Although institutional support and recognition of volunteer work remain areas for improvement, the overall trajectory indicates an ongoing transition toward systemic acknowledgment of volunteerism as an essential element of democratic participation and active citizenship.

Key concepts

According to Article 2 of the Law on Voluntary Work (Official Gazette of Montenegro, No. 26/10, 31/10, 14/12, and 48/15), which has been in force since 2010, volunteering is defined as:

“Voluntary and unpaid investment of time, knowledge, and skills for the purpose of providing services or performing activities for the benefit of another person or for the common good of society.”

Article 4 of the same law stipulates:

“A volunteer is a person who voluntarily and without compensation performs voluntary services. A volunteer may be a domestic or foreign natural person who is of working age or a person with disabilities who is capable of performing specific voluntary tasks.”

Furthermore, Article 11 clearly defines what does not constitute volunteering:

• Services or activities that an individual is legally obliged to provide to another person;

• Obligations resulting from court decisions and rulings;

• Regular assistance provided within family, friendship, or neighborly relationships (e.g., unpaid help among friends or neighbors).

While the legal definition provides a formal framework, certain criticisms have been raised in public policy and civil society contexts. For example, the National Youth Strategy 2017–2021 recognized that the legal definition of volunteering tends to treat it more as a specific type of labor-legal relationship, rather than as a voluntary and civic initiative.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) argue that this legal formulation is neither clear nor sufficiently adequate. In their view, the law does not reflect the broader understanding of volunteerism as a cornerstone of democracy and civic participation. Instead, there is a risk that volunteer engagement may be reduced to “unpaid labor,” rather than being recognized as a meaningful contribution to community well-being and social development (Article on RTCG).

In this context, the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027, adopted by the Government of Montenegro in October 2023, further emphasizes the importance of youth participation and volunteering as integral elements of a democratic society. The strategy outlines measures to improve the legal and institutional framework for youth engagement, including volunteering, and promotes cross-sectoral cooperation to support youth development.

To support the implementation of this strategy, the Government of Montenegro adopted the Action Plan for the Implementation of the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027 for the period 2025–2026 (Action Plan for the Youth Strategy 2025–2026). This second two-year action plan represents a comprehensive document that details the activities being undertaken by Montenegro in the field of youth policy. The document is the result of multisectoral collaboration among all relevant institutions involved in the implementation of public policy and aims to deliver on the strategic priorities identified.

These strategic documents and corresponding action plans confirm the state's commitment to the development of volunteerism, not only as a form of unpaid engagement but also as an expression of active citizenship and a foundation of democratic society.