Description
This project will allow two NGOs experienced in volunteer management to address perceived gaps in civil society organizations as regards their human resources’ qualifications and the availability of training resources for the implementation of volunteer programs. Since NGOs generally rely a great deal on volunteers, even at management level, the aim is to build capacity and empower them to make better use of the existing volunteer work supply, and thus, improve their effectiveness and efficiency. The project will focus on 30 entities – case studies – selected by contest. Through them the promoter will identify training needs and test pedagogical materials, as well as the training plan to be designed for e-learning - which will be adapted to the different trainees (leaders, staff and volunteers) - to be implemented through a digital platform for sharing and exchanging resources. The project will be concluded with an international seminar, a bilateral cooperation activity with a donor country.
Summary of project results
NGOs generally rely a great deal on volunteers at all levels including management. In Portugal, capacity building is needed at many levels, and improving volunteer management is one of the needs most often felt amongst NGOs. On the other hand, there are NGOs with the required know-how and the ability to train others. Through this project, two NGOs experienced in volunteer management addressed perceived gaps in civil society organizations as regards their human resources’ qualifications and the availability of training resources for the implementation of volunteer programmes. The goal was to build capacity and empower participating NGOs to make better use of the existing volunteer work supply, and thus, to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. The project focused on case studies selected from 110 real NGOs – which applied to take part in the project –, that enabled the promoter to identify training needs, to test pedagogical materials and to devise an e-learning training plan adapted to different types of trainee. The promoter considers the project to be a success: the 32 participating NGOs were able to create action plans applying the acquired knowledge, aiming at improving management of their volunteer programs, with the implementation being supervised by the promoter. 80 NGO leaders and staff members, as well as nearly 1,500 volunteers, benefited from training. At the project’s closing seminar, an important opportunity for networking and best practices exchange, 75 organizations were represented including 10 public entities and 3 Norwegian CSOs. The promoter’s technical capacity and sustainability were strengthened as well, not only from the experience acquired, but also with the creation of a quality seal and a virtual platform for disseminating learning materials, news, etc., which will continue to have an important role in the promoter’s activities. After the project’s completion, these continued to be used, and a follow-up project has already been implemented (providing training, leading up to granting the quality seal to additional organisations). The promoter reported that the project also resulted in greater visibility and recognition; and in the future, it is hoped that the networking carried out during the project will lead to cooperation opportunities, including at international level.
Summary of bilateral results