12 February 2004

Bonn, Germany: The UN Volunteers (UNV) programme and OneWorld International have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen ties and foster an enhanced flow of information through online volunteering. Both organizations hope to expand the delivery of information and exchange of experiences and best practices within and about the volunteering sector.

“We want to see the OneWorld Volunteers Editors Programme stand as a shining example of what can be achieved through online volunteering," Ad de Raad, Executive Coordinator of the UN Volunteers programme said. “The sharing of knowledge and experience between our institutions, our partners and networks will increase the flow of volunteering related information and by doing so, promote volunteerism in every corner of the globe. Furthermore, it also demonstrates one of the most important aspects of voluntary action, reciprocity."

The UN Volunteers programme will make available to OneWorld its platforms – www.worldvolunteerweb.org and www.onlinevolunteering.org, to promote and support recruitment for OneWorld’s Online Editors Programme which provides opportunities for volunteers in developing countries to have a voice in the portal www.oneworld.net. Peter Armstrong, Director of OneWorld International said, "Working with online volunteers is new territory for OneWorld, and the UN Volunteers programme has been tireless in providing valuable advice. We are excited by this new prospect of our respective global networks working together to explore the deeper potential that undoubtedly exists" .

OneWorld publishes Country Guides edited by online volunteers who are asked to write an introductory article about one particular country and to conduct additional research to update appropriate links to partner content, and to select and maintain a rotating feature topic. A volunteer editor should have strong interest in the international dimension of the country's affairs from the perspective of human rights and sustainable development. Interested applicants must be a resident of a developing country, and currently editors for Colombia, Ghana, Botswana, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Nepal are being sought.