Webinar- The EU Aid Volunteers Initiative Role of volunteering in humanitarian action and opportunities for organizations
Based on data from United Nations, the vulnerability and exposure to natural hazards has caused during the last 20 years, the loss of 1,35 million people lives and the displacement of 4000 million people.
Photos:
borjasantosporras
European Values of Solidarity
EU Aid Volunteers Initiative • Initiative born in 2010.
• After piloting it, in 2014, the European Parliament voted in favour of the legislation that will create "EU Aid Volunteers”
Operational objectives of the EU Aid Volunteers • Increasing the capacity of the EU to provide humanitarian aid.
• Improve the skills, knowledge and competences of volunteers in the field of humanitarian aid. • Build the capacity of hosting organisations and foster volunteering in third countries. • Communicate the EU's humanitarian aid principles agreed in the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid.
• Enhance coherence and consistency of volunteering across Member States in order to improve opportunities for EU citizens to participate in humanitarian aid activities and operations.
What does the Initiative offer? Opportunities for NGOs based both in the EU and elsewhere, as well as international organisations that are active in the field of humanitarian aid, disaster risk reduction or linking relief, rehabilitation and development. Opportunities for volunteers to participate and contribute with their area of expertise in humanitarian environments Fostering partnership: mutual benefits for sending and host organizations Capacity building of the EU humanitarian reponse: investing in humanitarian organisations Invest in Preparedness and DRR: often underfunded areas in development and humanitarian aid
Main features 1. Needs-based 2. Well trained and prepared volunteers
3. Capacity building for organisations 4. Online networking platform
Who does what? EUROPEAN COMMISSION
• Sets out the priority areas for the deployment and the capacity building to be funded each year, based on assessment of need.
SENDING AND HOSTING ORGANIZATIONS
• In consortia, submit project proposals • Undertake capacity building, technical assistance and deployment • select, and provide candidate volunteers with apprenticeship • deploy and manage EU Aid Volunteers.
VOLUNTEERS
• Get proper training • Work in the humanitarian situation
BENEFITS FOR HOST COUNTRIES & COMMUNITIES • Reinforcement of capacities and resilience of vulnerable communities in disaster prone regions/countries. • Minimise loss of lifes and damages in the event of disasters. Ethiopian farming community work
Photo:
borjasantosporras
BENEFITS for CSOs • Availability of a well trained, carefully selected and ready for action network • Builds humanitarian response capacity BUT.. • Organizations need to be certified!
Local preparedness for humanitarian reponse in Ecuador Photo:
borjasantosporras
BENEFITS FOR VOLUNTEERS • Opportunity to get involved in humanitarian aid, support the provision of needs-based humanitarian aid and engage in volunteering opportunities. • Unique learning experience – hands on experience & pairing with professional humanitarian workers
Health campaing in a Dollo Ado Regufee Camp Photo:
borjasantosporras
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PROCESS FOR ORGANIZATIONS
PRACTICAL CHALLENGES • Lack of funding for good quality needs assessment to increase effectiveness of the volunteer and hosting organization. • Human resources: retention, recruitment, capacity to deliver, gaps and differences in terms of support, preparation and facilities, lack of cultural adaptation • Quality of coaching offered to volunteers
SOME LESSONS LEARNT • Involve local partner in volunteer selection and support them in their capacity to manage volunteers. • Promoting solidarity between citizens of Europe and highlights the European values of solidarity • Ensure recruitment of volunteers is focused on skills needed in disaster recovery and prevention. • To be really agile in responding to the needs of the developing world we need to have polls/clusters of suitably qualified volunteers established across Europe.
Key figures (until july 2017): • • •
206 volunteers deployed to 28 third countries by end of 2017 more than 300 volunteers trained by end of 2017 101 organisations certified (25 sending organisations, 76 hosting organisations) • 44 project partners participate in technical assistance projects • 85 project partners participate in capacity building projects
Volunteer Interview: Lucas Rey Pitaluga • Country of origin: Spain • Country where he volunteered: Jordan • Sending organization: Alianza por la Solidaridad Spain • Host organization: Alianza por la Solidaridad Jordan • Tasks: Financial and Administration Officer • Project monitoring and financial closing • Acountancy and reporting • Logistics and inventory
ON-LINE COURSE: Jan 15th to Feb 4th
QUESTIONS?