International development volunteering as alternative public diplomacy

International development volunteering (IDV) refers to programs that involve the support of international volunteers as development actors. IDV programs are characterised by commitments to humanitarian or philanthropic ideals for volunteers living and working in partner country communities with the goal of reciprocal benefits for volunteer-sending countries and partner communities while tackling the causes rather than symptoms of poverty and/or inequality. More than 22 industrialised countries allocate bilateral aid through international volunteering programs. In this chapter we: provide an overview of these commitments to foreign aid through IDV; consider the thematic priorities for IDV contributions to foreign aid; and document the history of foreign policy commitments to IDV programs around the world. We consider the core policy objectives of international volunteer cooperation organisations in relation to public diplomacy and skills-building priorities in international development and situate our analysis within the scholarly debates on IDV impacts for development outcomes.