A “benchmarking” study of corporate volunteerism programs conducted by CDC Development Solutions shows that international corporate volunteer programs like those run by IBM, PepsiCo and Intel win high marks inside companies, but the practice faces questions about its development impact – and whether it is scaling fast enough among companies.

How do companies create a truly global workforce? For some of the largest and most innovative companies today, the answer comes through international corporate volunteerism, or ICV.

CDS Program Manager Daniel Elliott was published in the Council on Foreign Relations’ blog yesterday, covering how ICV programs can and are making an impact across Africa for African businesses and multinational corporations alike.

Stan Litow of IBM recently published an article in The Atlantic entitled “Global Volunteerism Is Good For Business”. International corporate volunteerism, writes Litow, provides immeasurable benefits to no only the developing world, but it also allows employees to sharpen their technical, cultural, teamwork, and leadership skills, becoming more loyal toward their employers, and developing insights into potential new markets.