Volunteers Management

By: Cane Harakuta

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Volunteers, the backbones of National Societies

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 What is Volunteerism?
• Group of activities carried out by individuals, associations or
legal entities, for the common good, by free choice and
without the intention of financial gain, outside the
framework of any employment or civil service relationship.
• This also includes communities working together or individuals
working alone in both political and non-political actions to
protect public values or make a change in a community. The goal
is to address public concerns and promote the quality of the
community.

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 What is Volunteering?
• “An individual who, by free choice, offers his or her
time, work and/or skills, occasionally or on a regular
basis, without expectation of compensation, other than
reimbursement of reasonable expenses and/or sub
allowances necessary for the accomplishment of
assignment at hand for the public benefit ,individually or
within an agreed framework”

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 Who is a NRCS Volunteer?
• A NRCS volunteer is a person, who carries out the NSs
activities occasionally or regularly upon his/her free
will, offering his/her expertise, knowledge, skills,
energy and time, and not by a desire for materials of
financial gain or by external social, economic or political
pressure.
• A NRCS volunteer may or may not be a member of
the NS.

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 Unique Qualities of a Volunteer?
Volunteer work is different from paid work. Volunteering
has it's own unique qualities:
Volunteers have a strong personal motivation
This makes a big difference to those we serve
Volunteers are flexible
They can work for as long as they will and they have
the energy
Volunteers are local(conversant with the
surrounding)
They are part of the community. Volunteers know the
needs and resources in the community, because they
are already there.
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 Classification of NRCS Volunteers?
• Regular Volunteers – Those who regularly provide
services on behalf of the NRCS and are engaged in the
day to day activities of the NS.
• Reservist Volunteers – They are called upon in the
time of emergency or need to provide specific services
on behalf of the NS. ( consultants)
• Professional Volunteers – Those who are recruited
due to their special skills and expertise, such as medical
doctors, accountants, engineers, teachers, lectures,
nurses, etc.

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 Categories of NRCS Volunteer.
• Service Volunteers- They are involved in the general
implementation of the activities and programs of the
NRCS. ( project volunteers, interns)
• Leadership Volunteers- They are involved in policy
making and monitoring of implementation process of
the NSs activities at various levels, among them is the
Governing Board of the NRCS.

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 Rights of Volunteers?
• Having appropriate materials provide to them to be able
to embark upon agreed tasks/roles.( visibility, tools)
• Accept or refuse any task or role in accordance with the
Code of Conduct & Fundamental Principle of Voluntary
services.
• To present proposals and raise issues through structures
within the NS.
• To have appropriate training and opportunities for
capacity development.
• To be recognized and regarded as NRCS human
resources.
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 Duties & Obligations of NRCS
Volunteers.
Expected to:
• Act in accordance with the NRCS Code of Conduct, FPs and promote
their dissemination.
• Respect the regulations on the use of the emblem& prevent its misuse
and abuse.
• Be available in an emergency, as agreed with NS, and according to their
abilities and skills.
• Provide service within a time frame of 4-6 hours per week.
• Be prepared to undertake appropriate training/personal development.
• Abide by NRCS Code of Conduct.

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Duties & Obligations of NRCS Volunteers
• Note that when they are working for NRCS they are representing the Red Cross
Movement and its ideals.
• Conduct their activities in line with the volunteer's code of conducts, the
Fundamental Principles and the philosophy of voluntary service, Geneva
Conventions and any other additional protocols.
• Be attentive to the needs of others at all times in line with NRCS core values of
commitment, accountability, service to humanity and trust.
• Be ready and willing to assume responsibilities.
• Be realistic about their availability, limitations and accessibility.
• Seek to serve at the level of their capacity but be flexible and persevering in
performing tasks undertaken.
• Seek to strengthen the unikts, branch, county, region or national office by being
fully informed of its goals, objectives and policies.

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Duties & Obligations of NRCS Volunteers
• Should to be positive and enthusiastic. Establish a positive working
relationship with other co-volunteers and staff by improving
communication and being aware of the importance of interaction.
• If in doubt, seek advice from the line supervisor before taking a
decision.

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 Members
; Members have the following duties and rights
 To promote the work of the NS and to participate
actively.
 To adhere to and disseminate information about
Fundamental Principals, the Redcross work and the
protection of the Emblem.
 Any member may give notice of resignation in writing
at any time to their Regional Governing Board.
 To pay membership fees as prescribe by the General
Assembly.

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Duties and Obligations of the National Society
• Provide appropriate information to volunteers on the nature and
condition of their voluntary assignment. The society will fulfil this
duty through induction, handbooks and through regular training.
• Provide a safe, secure and healthy working condition, in accordance
with the nature of their voluntary activity, in so far as is possible and
taking into account the nature of NRCS work and mandate.
• Ensure that an appropriate insurance cover/policy is in place for
volunteers, covering eventual risks of accident or illness directly
related to the volunteer activity.
• Reserve the right to recruit and terminate the services of volunteers
• Reserve the right to assign tasks and to enforce the code of conduct.
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Duties and Obligations of the National Society
• Establish an effective volunteer management system.
• Provide volunteers with appropriate training that will enable them perform
the assigned duties.
• Provide volunteers with appropriate infrastructure where needed, like
transport, communications equipment etc. in the discharge of their duties.
• Design appropriate volunteer programmes.
• Recognize and motivate volunteers through Volunteer Recognition.
• Motivation Scheme viii. Subject to availability of funds, reimburse any
expenses incurred by volunteers in the course of carrying out approved
volunteering tasks, up to the reasonable limits previously agreed with the
volunteer.

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 Opportunities/Support of the NRCS
Volunteers?
• Taking active role in problem solving/ support the communities and
play a role.
• To offer skills & talents for the benefit of the society& vulnerable
people.
• Leaning & developing new skills and knowledge.
• Representing NRCS in meetings/workshops/seminars.
• To be given a priority whenever vacant positions arise.

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 Recruitment of NRCS Volunteers.
• Using a network of friends, community leaders, informal head hunting,
community meetings etc.
• Using already existing structures, community units, youth structures,
village committees etc.
• Assessing the suitability of potential volunteers though a process of
selection.
• The process should be kept as simple and informal as possible.
• After recruitment a volunteer agreement form in which the volunteer
declares to abide by the NRCS Volunteer Policy Management Guidelines
should be filled.

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Recruitment of Volunteers Cont….
• Volunteers will be recruited on a proactive basis, with the intent of
broadening and expanding the volunteer involvement of the
community. Volunteering within the Society is all inclusive and open
to all those willing to offer their services, without discrimination on
the basis of race, religion, sex, ethnicity, disability or age.
• Volunteers are recruited through the branches, where they reside.
Their records are safe kept at the branch, record the information on
the data base.

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 Selection process and Training
• Selection of volunteers will be carried out based on the
activities and skills desired and as per volunteers categories.
• The data base of the volunteers will be used to select the
required volunteers as per their skills.
• All volunteers should receive the appropriate training that
will enable them to perform the specific task/role they are
enlisted to carry out.
• Basic training that all NRC volunteers should receive, FPs &
Code of Conduct.

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 Reimbursement of NRCS Volunteers.
• All volunteers have the right to be reimbursed reasonable
agreed upon expenses incurred in the course of carrying out
approved volunteering tasks.
• As far as possible volunteers should be provided transport, food
and accommodation when needed/or requested.

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 Reasons for having Volunteers in
NRCS.
• To assist the NS in carrying out its Humanitarian activities in serving
the vulnerable people.
• To increase membership base in order to meet the Humanitarian
challenges in the country.
• To build the capacity of the NS in terms of human resources base.
• To build the image and reputation of the NS.
• To achieve its strategy with the voluntarism principles of the RCM.

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