UNV’s Experience in Strengthening Volunteer Infrastructure in VIET NAM
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, 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 project “Strengthening Capacity of Volunteerism for Development (VDVN) Project”in Viet Nam. It was prepared based on an evaluation study including a literature review and field visit. During the field visit, the evaluation team carried out semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).
UNV, 2014 www.unv.org
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OVERVIEW Viet Nam has a long tradition of volunteering, including in the last century campaigns to combat hunger launched during the 1945-54 resistance war and a growth in volunteer groups and organisations in the 1970s. Currently Viet Nam’s volunteer sector includes small self-help groups and volunteer clubs, local and national entities with legal status and larger volunteer ‘umbrella’ organisations. One of these umbrella organisations, with a youth membership of approximately 6.1 million, is the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU). The Strengthening Capacity of Volunteerism for Development (VDVN) Project, 2009-2012, was implemented by the youth union, with financial and technical support from UNV and parallel funding/in-kind support from the One Plan Fund, volunteer involving organisations (VIOs), such as VSO, France Volontaires, Australian Volunteers International (AVI) and others. Overall the partnership also included Government and private sector entities.
2003-2005 UNV-supported project “Youth Volunteers in Cultural Heritage Preservation”, in partnership with HCYU
2009-2012 Strengthening Capacity of Volunteerism for Development (VDVN) Project
2007 National stakeholder consultation workshop, leading to the agreement on objectives and implementation strategy
2013-2015 VDVN Phase 2: Strengthening Capacity of Viet Nam Volunteer Information and Resource Centre
VDVN/VVIRC
coordination
facilitation
capacity building
policy development
The key objective of Strengthening Capacity of Volunteerism for Development (VDVN) was to establish and strengthen the capacity of a Viet Nam Volunteer Information and Resource Centre (VVIRC) as a permanent and sustainable national institution for the promotion and support of volunteerism for development. VVIRC would then fulfill the coordination, facilitation, capacity building and policy development roles.
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IMPLEMENTATION VDVN pursued its aims of strengthening the capacity of VVIRC in its role to promote and support volunteerism for development, and better assisting youth and other vulnerable populations, by:
VVIRC set-up
stakeholder capacity development
sector partnership facilitation
public information strategy
policy recommendations resulting in regulations
The project has a phased approach, phase 1 is finalized and is the subject of evaluation.
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES The youth union (HCYU), as implementing partner, staffed the Project Management Unit, comprising the National Project Director and National Project Manager. Project support was provided by UN Volunteers, VSO, France Volontaires and AVI volunteers, and oversight by a Project Steering Committee. Three Project Teams were established and staffed by HCYU staff and UN Volunteers, and volunteers from other international VIOs including VSO, France Volontaires and AVI. Other organisations provided support for specific activities, e.g. Solidarites Jeunesses (SJ) Viet Nam provided some of the project training.
Communication Team Training Team
Policy/ Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Team
UNV’S ROLE
PROVIDE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROJECT
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT OF HCYU, VVIRC AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
ADVISE THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT
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SUPPORT PROJECT DELIVERY
RELEVANCE The VDVN project was driven by the principle of volunteerism for development and regarded as highly relevant to national needs and socioeconomic development priorities.
NATIONAL PRIORITIES
UNV MANDATE
Youth was identified as a focus in Viet Nam’s Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) 2006 – 2010 and youth participation, including through voluntary action, was given particular attention. The project was also aligned with the UN/ Government of Viet Nam One Plan (2006 – 2010), especially regarding youth inclusion.
The VDVN project aligned with UNV’s three pillars of mobilising volunteers, advocating for the promotion of volunteerism and its integration into development planning. • ADVOCACY • INTEGRATION • MOBILISATION
VOLUNTEER SECTOR
Supporting the establishment of the VVIRC as a national entity to coordinate volunteering opportunities and provide capacity building support to VIOs and volunteers, in addition to supporting HCYU to develop a youth volunteering policy, was relevant and timely to the needs of the volunteer sector. • STAKEHOLDER NEEDS BASED • VDVN - THE ONLY VOLUNTEER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT ON A NATIONAL SCALE • CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP OF UNV AND HCYU
EFFICIENCY A slow start resulted in limited progress in the first year (2008-2009) and in many activities being delayed. A no-cost extension was granted for the project, originally running from 2008 to 2011, which took the project up to December 2012. The second phase of the project runs from 2013 until 2015.
Available data suggested that the project was cost efficient.
Project personnel capacity never reached the optimum levels and staff turnover was a challenge.
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Important shortcomings: absence of an M&E Advisor and of some thematic advisors.
EFFECTIVENESS Overall, the VDVN project achieved three of its outputs, and made considerable progress against the fourth and final output.
1 Well established and functioning volunteer resource centre that is able to ensure successful and sustainable implementation of activities
> 2010 launch of the Viet Nam Volunteer Information and Resource Centre (VVIRC) in Hanoi > VVIRC is a member of the International Association for Volunteer Efforts (IAVE) and of the IAVE Network of National Volunteer Centres > In 2012 VVIRC Regional Offices in Da Nang and HCMC were established • Limited progress in developing Partnership and Resource Mobilisation Strategies. > VVIRC website providing a range of information, including volunteering opportunities • 1,000+ hits a day • 2,500 volunteers registered • 210 VIOs registered • 800 volunteer opportunities
2 Available and accessible information on, and increased awareness of volunteerism for development
> Strong social media presence geared towards youth • ~19,000 Facebook followers > Networks established • Network of trainers on volunteerism and volunteer management • Networks of VIOs in North, Centre and South regions
• Network of social support for organisations providing services to vulnerable groups • VVIRC is coordinating a network of volunteers clubs, groups, VIOs throughout the country > E vents organised • volunteer voice fora • national conferences • s eminars on volunteerism for development • Volunteer Festival • volunteer campaigns > Volunteer Awards
• Research component delayed.
3 Policy recommendations that will result in the drafting of regulations on volunteerism
> draft policy on youth volunteerism formulated and submitted for legal endorsement • there is a need for policy beyond youth.
4 Enhanced volunteer management capacity of HCYU, VIOs and individual volunteers to better assist youth and other vulnerable groups through the promotion of volunteerism for development
> capacity development of the youth union to manage the volunteer resource and information centre > capacity development of target groups (training, exchange visits) > focus placed on volunteer management training • lack of a central information database and reports on some activities • no formal training evaluation mechanisms in place • no monitoring of how training influenced practice and results • a training strategy to systematise training and maximise impact is recommended.
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IMPACT AND RESULTS The shortcomings in terms of M&E make it difficult to provide a detailed analysis of impact. However qualitative and anecdotal examples of impact at individual, organisational and national level do exist.
INDIVIDUAL
• volunteer managers and volunteers positively appraised the training they were provided • Volunteer Achievement Awards - recognition of skill and practice for future employmentseeking • building personal and professional networks and relationships • HCYU staff gained good experience in project management skills • volunteers gained skills and capacity which increased their employability.
ORGANISATIONAL
• successful in setting up VVIRC organisationally • VVIRC gained national and international recognition as coordinating organisation • HCYU gained from increased implementation and subsequent improved staff management capacity • increased professional networks in Hanoi, across the country and across the world • Manuals for Volunteer Management and for Volunteers available • National VIO Directory available and very useful.
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NATIONAL
• deep, national leadership commitment to volunteerism • recognition and promotion of volunteerism for development in Viet Nam • the Government declared 2014 as the Year of Youth Volunteers in Viet Nam • draft National Youth Volunteering Policy developed • vision for an inclusive and wide reaching policy • important steps taken towards a favourable regulatory framework for volunteers.
SUSTAINABILITY The Project Termination Report confirms that there was great will on the side of the youth union (HCYU) to foster sustainability of project benefits. However concerns regarding resources exist, for which importance needs to be placed on developing a resource mobilisation strategy and exit strategy.
! National ownership
Staff and volunteer turnover
Strengthening Capacity of Volunteerism for Development (VDVN) Phase 2
Resource mobilisation strategy
At the end of 2013, a two-year Phase 2 for the VDVN project was approved. The second phase aims to ensure the sustainability of the information and communication activities of the VVIRC, by focusing on: • capacity development of VVIRC staff • further development of information and communication infrastructure • strengthening relationships between national and international partners.
GOOD PRACTICE 1
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Viet Nam Volunteer Information and Resource Centre
Website and social media
VIO Directory
Local culture
The Directory has been an excellent resource for VIOs looking to expand their professional networks.
The project drew on examples from Viet Nam’s history of volunteering, e.g. Vicongdong, a social network for philanthropy and volunteering; the Chim En volunteer awards.
The centre functions like a ‘one stop shop’ for VIOs and volunteers looking for information, connection and a sharing platform.
The VVIRC website has been a great success, expanding operations from the physical into the virtual space. The use of social media enhanced its outreach to youth, at minimal cost.
UNV is extremely grateful for the outstanding support received from UN Online Volunteers in designing some of the infographics for this knowledge product.
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