UNV’s Experience in Strengthening Volunteer Infrastructure in BURKINA FASO
COUNTRY REPORT
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organisation that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide.
In 2013, UNV commissioned a global evaluation on “UNV Contribution to Volunteer Infrastructures”. The evaluation covered national and regional projects aimed at strengthening volunteer infrastructure that were partnered and supported by UNV financially and technically.
Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilising volunteers.
“UNV’s Experience in Strengthening Volunteer Infrastructure” is a series of knowledge products based on the findings of the evaluation, included in one global and eight country reports (Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Liberia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Peru, Togo and Viet Nam).
UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
This knowledge product shares UNV’s experience in supporting the National Volunteer Programme in Burkina Faso, Programme National de Volontariat au Burkina Faso (PNVB).
UNV, 2014 www.unv.org
OVERVIEW In a country with 58% of people below the age of 20 and limited access to formal employment, creating opportunities to capitalise on this under-used human resource is important. The volunteer programme (PNVB) is seen by the Ministry of Youth, Vocational Training and Employment, as having the potential to develop human resources, contribute towards employment of youth and being consistent with the fight against unemployment and poverty. The objective of this programme is to engage young, qualified volunteers, enabling them to contribute to the development of the nation as well as gain experience that would increase their chance for employment.
2004 Government of Burkina Faso approached UNV and expressed interest in developing a national volunteer scheme. A feasibility study is carried out involving a wide range of stakeholders.
2008
PNVB exists as a national organisation which recruits and manages national volunteers.
PNVB was given the status of structure of public interest
(Groupement d’intérêt publique), a special legal
2006-2008
From 2011 onwards
status which allows dialogue and collaboration between the state, decentralised services and local authorities and civil society actors.
Pilot phase is initiated with funding from UNV, UNDP and the Government.
PNVB is assisted by a multistakeholder committee, representing various ministries and civil society organisations.
2008-2011
Aim: to create a conducive environment for volunteering and to set up PNVB.
The PNVB Directorate General was set-up; gradual hand-over of tasks and responsibilities to the national volunteers.
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IMPLEMENTATION BENEFICIARIES AND ACTIVITIES The programme initially targeted six regions and currently covers all 12 regions, besides the capital city of Ouagadougou.
+ The beneficiaries of this programme are: • Young volunteers, aged 18 to 35, out of which 51% are women;
The key activities within the programme relate to the selection of volunteers, matching them with placements suitable for their profiles.
• Host organisations, such as local authorities, local associations, and community based organisations.
Young people apply and their details are recorded in a database. On the other hand, host organisations, selected based on certain criteria, express the need for a volunteer. Volunteers are then selected according to their profile, qualifications and motivation for volunteering. Regional volunteer centres recruit these volunteers, coordinate their induction training, support and monitor their assignment.
KEY STRUCTURES MINISTRY OF YOUTH, VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT
The Ministry of Youth and Vocational Training and Employment is PNVB’s host ministry. The PNVB office or Direction Générale is the central office based in Ouagadougou which oversees the smooth running of the programmes. The Directorate General has four departments: • Strategic planning and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) • Communication and public relations • Administration and finance • Training and re-insertion.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD
The Administrative Board is a multistakeholders platform which includes 15 members, representatives of various groups: the government, the local authorities, CSOs, IVOs, trade Unions. The board meets twice per year and its main function is to oversee the governance and performance of PNVB.
REGIONAL VOLUNTEERS CENTRES
Regional Volunteer Centres (CRVs) are decentralised PNVB structures which manage the volunteers on a daily basis. The centres are hosted by civil society organisations (CSOs) as a service provided to PNVB. CRVs are responsible for the recruitment and selection of volunteers and their supervision during their placements; they visit the volunteers once a month, provide mentoring and support in case of administrative or professional problems. The animators within these centres also provide training and sensitise potential host organisations.
UNV’S ROLE
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2 From the initial phase, UNV supported a participatory approach involving not only the central government but also the local authorities CSOs, volunteer organisations and trade unions.
3 UNV provided technical assistance at PNVB’s request.
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UNV provided initial funding for the pilot phase.
IMPACT AND RESULTS INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER LEVEL
ORGANISATIONAL LEVEL
• About 25,000 volunteers have been recruited through PNVB since the beginning of the programme. • Better data gathering and analysis is needed to conclude on the impact on the volunteers. • The motivation of some volunteers seems more frequently linked to gathering work experience rather than a sense of service to the community.
• A functional team with departments covering various areas, such as planning, M&E, communications, administration and finance, training and reinsertion after the end of the assignment.
POLICY LEVEL
• Passing of the Law on Volunteering, • Budgetary line for volunteering; Government funding for PNVB.
• PNVB has been able to recruit and support a large number of volunteers each year.
EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY Volunteering actively promoted by the government, which greatly contributed to the institutionalisation of volunteering, facilitated multi-stakeholder involvement and made the PNVB a functioning organisation.
Mobilisation: growing number of volunteer placements. PNVB actively participated in the drafting of the Law on Volunteering of 2008 which regulates volunteering.
The national coordination of the PNVB has been operationalised and so have the regional volunteer centres.
PNVB reached its objectives of creating a conducive environment for volunteering and setting-up a process for volunteering.
The Government has committed some funding for the foreseeable future.
UNV is extremely grateful for the outstanding support received from UN Online Volunteers in designing some of the infographics for this knowledge product 4