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IVCO 2006
Conference Report
These changes have resulted in IVCOs having to adapt, with some of the
The following points were shown to be the major changes in environment
main issues being: as aid increases there is is ever present pressure to
on aid, development and poverty reduction in the last five years:
show results, the Paris Declaration and engaging with alternative ⇒ Increasing number of available volunteers
develpment approaches. ⇒
⇒
New models of working with Southern partners
Changes in volunteer recruitment
3
Tony went on to discuss trends in:
• Relationships with donors
• The international development context ⇒ Evaluation and impact assessment. IVCOs really want to
⇒ Capacity development show that they’re making a difference which is much more
⇒ Growing aid volume positive than impact assessment just for donor reporting
⇒ Impact of the global security agenda ⇒ Overcoming funding challenges
⇒ Increased access to communications
⇒ Engaging with alternative actors. The growth in private • Competition and partners
sector collaboration is “patchy, interesting, and has lots of
potential.” Tony German • Increasing professionalism of IVCOs
⇒ Private funders and vertical funds
Tony then discussed possible challenges for the future such as gender,
• International Cooperation Organisations exclusion and what distinctive contribution could IVCOs make to
⇒ Short rather than long term placement eliminating poverty by 2025?
©SKI/Jessica Lowe
These are some of the key points raised in group
discussion:
The methodology was tested in around ten countries around the world • Another model: start with what happened, then what caused it,
and there was a two-day workshop attended by the steering group in then what was the role of the volunteer.
June to review the pilot. UNV will use this methodology to enhance their
• Some of the richness of
current evaluation systems and tools, and other organisations have also the work we’ve talked
expressed interest in using the methodology. about is in the dynamism
of the planned and
Ryuichi Nasu, Senior Assistant to Director General (JICA), then unintended outcomes.
©JICA/Naoko Yago
presented JICA’s key findings on their volunteer programme evaluation
which is focussed on the idea of three viewpoints for evaluation: • Most significant change
contribution to social and economic development or reconstruction in stories are beautiful
developing countries, promotion of a friendly relationship and a mutual but more difficult to
understanding between developing countries and Japan, and the sharing aggregate.
of volunteer experiences with society.
Contemporary corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda is more One partnership model of engagement with the private sector is corporate
challenging, it only works well where there is a level of mutuality. There also exchange as explained by Tor Elden, Director General Fredskorpset (FK
needs to be clarity and a meeting of minds between the corporate Norway). FK Norway facilitates Norwegian business people going to Africa
organisation and the NGO/ international volunteering organisation when and African business people coming to Norway in an exchange programme.
forming a partnership. Originally the business community in Norway were sceptical toward the new
©United Colours of Benetton/James Mollison
“Yes we still want dollars and companies have dollars to 5
give, but they increasingly want relationships.
Relationships take time and careful planning” Donna
Keher, Chief of Partnerships, Comms and ResMob, UNV.
The topic of exclusivity was then discussed. Donna stated that UNV does not
grant exclusivity to anyone and Pierre commented that exclusivity often
almost happens in a self-selecting way.
Delegates then split into groups for discussions, there were no report backs –
just an opportunity to learn and share. The four presenters facilitated the
Fredskorpset but now these partnerships make up 15% of their programme discussion groups all looking at this question:
portfolio.
Question for group discussion:
Pierre Veronneau, Executive Director (Oxfam-Quebec), then talked about What are the opportunities and challenges in more engagement with
Oxfam-Quebec’s partnership with Cirque de Soleil. Oxfam-Quebec receives the private sector?
support for their programme from Cirque de Soleil, but the two organisations
also have a joint programme ‘Cirque de Monde’. There are two aspects to
the programme, public engagement through art and a water project. This is
not a corporate donation – it’s a long-term partnership.
Another model was presented with the example of a joint venture of the
Uniterra initiative. Sylvain Matte, Director General (Uniterra, CECI), talked
about the ’Leave for Change’ (Congé Solidaire) scheme. Uniterra facilitates
short-term placements for private company employees to transform their
holidays into development placements. The private company provides
financial donations for each placement and in return increases its visibility as
a good corporate citizen and benefits from increased staff retention.
©SKI/Jessica Lowe
(a Protestant organisation). They worked together on the ‘Africa Needs
Medicines - Now!’ campaign. The campaign focussed on collecting
signatures for a petition and a large event where 6,000 lit candles were
placed in the shape of an AIDS ribbon in front of the Swiss parliamentary
buildings.
Tor Elden, Director General (FK Norway), described how FK Norway bases
a lot of their public engagement on cooperation with their Southern
partners. There are educational programmes in all secondary schools
where they work, culture activities to show diversity and focus on the
Group Discussion MDGs in different activities. Municipalities discuss how to make the
municipality a better place and carry on activities on their own.
In addressing the topic of ‘Public Engagement and Influencing Policy’ “Influencing policy through government IS
Karen Takacs, Executive Director (CCI), presented on the collaboration relationships” Dimity Fifer, CEO, AVI.
of volunteer cooperation agencies (VCAs) in Canada and how that has
assisted with public engagement. VCAs share a common struggle to Dimity Fifer, CEO (AVI) then gave her presentation on AVI and
keep up to date contact information, and to engage returned volunteers influencing policy through relationships with the government. Dimity
where they live so they decided to collaborate on funding challenges, stated that “It is about dialogue and two-way exchange. AVI has a long
policy influence, and program support. This has benefits as often VCAs strong history and the name has a lot of clout, they are seen as a leader
do not have the resources to support large scale campaigns on their in their country which opens doors such as
own. returned volunteers having hearings with
©JICA
parliamentarians.”
“By public engagement we mean the processes and
activities of engaging citizens that enables people to Links with returned volunteers are kept
move from basic awareness of international strong through emails every six weeks
development issues, through to an understanding of the keeping them abreast of issues and how
they can be involved.
causes and effects of global issues to personal and
informed action.” Karen Takacs, Executive Director, CCI. Dong Ho Kim, Director (KOICA), talked
about public engagement in Korea. They
Sepp Gähwiler, CEO (Bethlehem Mission Immensee), gave a also have a strong network of returned
presentation also focussed on collaboration in public engagement. Sepp volunteers engaged in the association of
described the varied ways Bethlehem Mission Immensee (BMI) engages ex-KOICA volunteers. The Korean
people, through their ‘Wendekreis’ magazine, the RomeroHaus workshop government financially supports the
and education centre, and a structured group of returned volunteers who association giving funds for projects such
offer advice and training. as large exhibitions about volunteering in
subway stations etc. There is also a
The case study Sepp chose to elaborate was a collaborative effort of BMI national volunteer award to raise Dimity Fifer, CEO, AVI
(a Catholic missionary organisation) and Swiss Interchurch Aid public awareness.
Open Topics 7
The Work of UNV Collaboration and Cooperation
• Online Volunteering JOCV
The online volunteering service connects development organisations and
volunteers worldwide over the internet and supports their online Naoko Yago, Programme Officer (JICA/JOCV), presented JOCV’s collaboration
collaboration. Volunteers complete tasks over the internet and it is a useful in Africa on AIDS programmes. She explained the programme model and how it
tool for engaging volunteers who cannot travel. involves cooperation with the government, community and hospitals.
• World Volunteer Web Possible future collaborations for JOCV include Peace Corps, DED,
The World Volunteer Web is a volunteering FHI and UNFPA.
resource site hosted by UNV. It provides links
to a variety of information, databases of Skillshare International and AVI
organisations, forums and blogs, and a bank
of stories and perspectives. Skillshare International and AVI have been working in
partnership in Southern Africa for six months. Dimity
• Volunteer Infrastructure Fifer, CEO (AVI), and Elaine Stevenson, International
UNV presented the four key points of their Programmes Manager (Skillshare International),
volunteering infrastructure: presented to IVCO delegates this partnership. AVI
• Reach a common understanding of recruits volunteers which are then supported by
volunteerism and a shared Skillshare in the host country. Skillshare International
appreciation of its value. manages AVI’s Africa programme.
• Establish and nurture an enabling Dimity described the partnership as an “evolving,
environment. emergent relationship.” Elaine said that “stronger
• Adopt a diversity of approaches to partnerships will add voice for social change.” They
mobilising and facilitating volunteerism both stressed that the partnership benefited from
• Ensure sustainable funding both parties having similar values, and communication
and trust.
©SKI/Jessica Lowe
©SKI/Jessica Lowe
Peace Corps
Jody Olsen, Deputy Director (Peace Corps), gave a presentation on
the work of Peace Corps as 2006 is the organisation’s 45th
anniversary. She gave information on their history, their missions
and goals, recruitment, volunteer service, host countries and their
approach to development.
Jody then directed delegates to the Peace Corps website as a
resource for languages, recruitment materials and
evaluation materials.
Delegates enjoy the stands at IVCO Jody Olsen, Deputy Director, Peace Corps
Participants
Cliff Allum, President, Donna Keher, Chief, Frédérique Samé-Ekobo, Many thanks to UNV for
International FORUM on Partnerships, Comms and Partnership Development hosting this year’s
conference and to all UNV
Development Service ResMob, UNV Officer, AFVP employees involved.
Lydia Ang Chia Ying, Manager, Dong Ho Kim, Director, KOICA Martin Schreiber, Central
Singapore International Angela König, Director, EIRENE Secretariat, Unité
Foundation International Dagmar Schumacher, Head, Next Steps
Lydia Baker, Research Eric Levine, Chief Executive, Donor Relations Unit, UNV IVCO 2007 will be held in
Consultant, Development SPW Luís Silva, Head of International Montreal 17th-19th
Initiatives Claire Lewis, Coordinator, Programmes, Skillshare September.
Michelle Brooks, Director of FORUM International
Congressional Relations, Peace Jessica Lowe, Coordinator, Deborah Snelson, CEO, VSA For further information about
FORUM, please contact:
Corps FORUM Elaine Stevenson, International
info@forum-ids.org
Liz Burns, President, IAVE Jean Marc Mangin, Executive Programmes Manager,
Eun Ju Cha, Assistant Manager, Director, CUSO Skillshare International
KOICA Sylvain Matte, Director Uniterra, Karen Takacs, Executive
Lillian Chatterjee, Director CECI Director, Canadian Crossroads
General, CIDA Rod Macleod, International International
Ad de Raad, Executive Programmes Director, Margaret Thevarakon, Senior
Coordinator, UNV Progressio Manager, Singapore
Tor Elden, Director General, Ryuichi Nasu, Senior Assistant International Foundation
Fredskorpset (FK Norway) to Director General, JICA/JOCV Bente Topsøe-Jensen,
Hartwig Euler, General Manager, Åsa Öhrström, Head of HR, International Director,
AK LHÜ Forum Syd Mellemfolkeligt
Dimity Fifer, CEO, AVI Jody Olsen, Deputy Director, Lars Tollemark, Recruitment
Sepp Gähwiler, CEO, BMI Peace Corps Officer, Forum Syd
Tony German, Research Masaaki Otsuka, Director- Pierre Veronneau, Executive
Consultant, Development General, JICA/JOCV Director, Oxfam Quebéc
Initiatives Doris Popp, Senior Policy Naoko Yago, Programme
Mark Goldring, Chief Executive, Advisor, DED Officer, JICA/JOCV