Blood transfusion is a core service within health care systems and individuals who donate their blood provide a unique contribution to the health and survival of others. Every country faces an ongoing challenge to collect sufficient blood from safe donors to meet national requirements. This framework for global action outlines broad goals, strategies and action points that will enable countries to move towards 100% voluntary blood donation. The specific objectives are to provide information and guidance on the vital role of voluntary blood donors in assuring the availability of stable and sufficient supplies of safe blood for transfusion and propose a series of interlinking strategies and suggestions for concrete action at national and community levels to scale up voluntary blood donor programmes with heightened commitment and support from governments, partners and other stakeholders.