14 February 2008

Bonn, Germany: Development organizations are making increasing use of online volunteers through the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Online Volunteering service (www.onlinevolunteering.org). The number of online projects offered on the website grew by 28% in 2007 and the service is poised to grow further with the addition of French and Spanish services.

More than 1,035 development organizations are now registered with the UNV Online Volunteering service, up from 915 in 2006. They posted 3,600 online volunteering opportunities in 2007, up from 2,800 opportunities in 2006. This gave 2,400 online volunteers the chance to engage in development work via the UNV Online Volunteering service in 2007; many of the online volunteers worked on more than one assignment.

To cater to the growing demand, UNV is upgrading the Online Volunteering service with the substantial financial support of Irish Aid, the Government of Ireland's programme of assistance to developing countries. The website is being redesigned in 2008 and will eventually expand from English language services to include French and Spanish, which is expected to result in further growth.

“This is great news for the development organizations that post assignments, and the people and communities in developing countries who ultimately benefit,” said UNV Executive Coordinator Ms Flavia Pansieri. “The growth in online volunteerism shows that there are tremendous opportunities to engage people all over the world in development through volunteerism and the internet, and that this is being increasingly acknowledged by development organisations.”

Ms Pansieri noted that the increased demand for online support was easily accommodated by the thousands of people who regularly visit the website of the UNV Online Volunteering service to search for opportunities that match their skills and interests. In 2007, online volunteers made an average of two bids for every assignment posted on the service.

Development organizations propose assignments on the website, and these are assessed by skilled individuals from around the world who offer their services online.  The service is free for the organizations and the volunteers.

UNV Online Volunteering service manager Ms Elise Bouvet attributed the growth to satisfied users who are spreading the word and boosting the growth of the Online Volunteering community. A recent satisfaction survey showed that 77% of the volunteers are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their online volunteering experience. The same survey found that 84% of organizations engaging online volunteers via the UNV Online Volunteering service rated their collaboration as “good” or “excellent”.

“Online volunteers can support development activities in many ways, including support for income generation projects by sharing their business and marketing knowledge or editing the project proposals,” said Ms Bouvet. “They can improve knowledge management by building a database or devise a survey, and they can facilitate communications by helping organisations create a website or write a newsletter.”

Online volunteer Ms Yin Mei of  Singapore recently noted that online volunteering “has added a new dimension to how I apply my skills and has deepened my interest in development work".

The Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF) in Nigeria is an example of the development organisations using the UNV service to engage online volunteers in its projects. YTF Executive Director Ms Njideka Harry said that the UNV service had “allowed YTF to achieve results that wouldn't have been possible with our on-site program alone. Involving online volunteers, YTF has not only fulfilled its mission to bridge the digital divide, but we have also actively bridged the cultural divide as well." Danielle Brunin from the United States, who volunteered online with YTF, said: "this online volunteering experience had an important impact on my life because I feel as though I am able to make a difference in the world and use my skills, even though I'm not on the ground in the areas where the Youth for Technology Foundation operates. It allows me to genuinely feel as though I am part of the world community."

Organizations wishing to involve online volunteers in their development activities may register at www.onlinevolunteering.org.