What is volunteering developmentThe management of volunteers is an essential issue for National Societies and it is increasingly being included in strategic plans, a recognition of the fact that it is seen as an important area. Nevertheless, more needs to be done to improve and establish good volunteer management systems.
Volunteering development has two perspectives:
- Inside National Societies:
To ensure that it is volunteer friendly and uses a sound volunteer management system
- Outside National Societies:
To ensure that the environment which it operates in is volunteering enabling.
Volunteering development takes time and requires commitment
For a National Society, a volunteering development effort is a long term investment and commitment. It begins with analyzing the current state of how it manages and supports its volunteers. Taking the analysis into a process to put in place, improve or change the practice of volunteer management.
It is about looking into all organizational levels as well as the current practice of the various programmes and activities run by the society. It is also vital to advocate for volunteering enabling environments through heightening awareness on the importance of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are at the heart of effective humanitarian assistance for millions of vulnerable people.
Volunteers are our strength. They are what defines us and what makes us a unique humanitarian force in the world. As a federation of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, one of our focuses is on supporting our volunteers and giving them the tools and resources they need to meet the high demands and expectations that we — and our supporters — place on them.
The plan for 2009–2010 reflects two years of a four year effort that begun in 2008 on taking volunteering development forward in the International Federation. When designing the plan, the focus is set with the focus on 2011 and the International Year of Volunteers 2001+10 (2011). The key target group for this programme is National Societies.
The volunteering development programme will provide National Societies with tools and resources to provide a favourable internal and external environment that encourages and facilitates the work of volunteers, as well as promotes volunteerism across all sectors of civil society. Focus is on enhancing volunteer systems, special focus will be on volunteering in emergency situations. Click here to go directly to the 2010–2011 plan and summary budget.
IFRC Volunteering Policy review process
The International Federation is currently reviewing its Volunteering Policy, following the results of the recent report, “Taking volunteers seriously”, which has evaluated the progress of volunteering between 1999 and 2007. The General Assembly of the International Federation has recommended that this policy be reviewed, and reported on in 2011 to mark the 10th anniversary of International Year of Volunteers.
Access more resources on volunteering development
You can find more information and resources on volunteering development on our global extranet, FedNet. This is a tool for volunteers and staff of all National Societies, International Federation and ICRC. It contains many relevant resources, such as news, publications, and training resources. If you do not already have a FedNet account, you can get one easily by filling and sending the FedNet registration form.
Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are at the heart of effective humanitarian assistance for millions of vulnerable people. Volunteers are our strength. They are what defines us and what makes us a unique humanitarian force in the world. As a federation of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, one of our focuses is on supporting our volunteers and giving them the tools and resources they need to meet the high demands and expectations that we — and our supporters — place on them.