02 March 2000

Bonn, Germany: The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) is teaming up with NetAid -- a joint Internet initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Cisco Systems -- to fight poverty through voluntary service. As of 27 February 2000, the NetAid web site (www.netaid.org) features online volunteering as an innovative component of its products, developed and managed by UNV.

Built up by a small UNV/NetAid team at UNV headquarters in Bonn, Germany, the online volunteering module includes a search engine for non-governmental and civil society organizations working in any field of development to post online volunteer assignments. Anyone looking for online volunteering opportunities can then log on and take advantage of these.

What is Online Volunteering?

Online Volunteering means completing volunteer tasks, not on site, or on a face-to-face basis, but via the Internet. Essentially any task that can be delivered in an information format can be considered for online volunteering. This will add a new dimension to the existing possibilities of volunteering through the UN system.

The idea is quite simple. An NGO needs a task to be done for which it might lack the expertise or the money. This task can be completed on a computer and therefore be delivered via the Internet. The NGO submits a description of the assignment to the Online Volunteering database from the NetAid web site. An individual anywhere in the world who wants to contribute to a development issue of his or her interest can enter the Online Volunteering search engine and look for an assignment. Conceivable assignments include: translations, data processing, research, technology/legal advice, mentoring, graphic design and running a help-line.

A great advantage of volunteering ONLINE compared to ONSITE is: the volunteers don't have to physically move to the place of the organization where they are volunteering. They can contribute their services, yet stay where they are in the world. This means that everyone interested will be able to get involved in development cooperation from their homes, schools, workplaces or Internet Cafes, working for maybe just a few hours a week, without having to spend time and money on travelling.

For NGOs, many more tasks can be done by a volunteer without expenses on accommodation, workspace and material onsite. Adding an online volunteering component to traditional onsite volunteering has the potential to involve many more committed people in development activities.

How does Online Volunteering fit into NetAid?

NetAid is a joint, long-term initiative by UNDP and CISCO Systems. Through its central web site it aims to contribute to the eradication of poverty by offering development organizations and every global citizen a variety of services and information, such as:

• providing a platform for organizations, corporations and individuals to get in touch and inform each other about their views, work, services and achievements concerning human development; to communicate and coordinate their efforts, thus building a global development network; and
• focusing public and political attention on the needs of the world's poorest citizens, items of urgency and current projects and developments.