UNV’s Experience in Strengthening Volunteer Infrastructure in BURKINA FASO

COUNTRY REPORT

2004Government of Burkina Faso approached UNV and expressed interest

in developing a national volunteer scheme.

A feasibility study is carried out involving a wide range of

stakeholders.

2008-2011The PNVB Directorate General was set-up;

gradual hand-over of tasks and responsibilities

to the national volunteers.

From 2011 onwards

PNVB exists as a national organisation which recruits

and manages national volunteers.

PNVB is assisted by a multi-stakeholder committee, representing

various ministries and civil society organisations.

2006-2008 Pilot phase is initiated with funding from UNV, UNDP

and the Government. Aim: to create a conducive

environment for volunteering and to set up PNVB.

2008PNVB was given the status of structure of public interest

(Groupement d’intérêt publique), a special legal

status which allows dialogue and collaboration between the

state, decentralised services and local authorities and civil society

actors.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organisation that promotes volunteerism to support

peace and development worldwide.

Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and

the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally,

encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilising volunteers.

UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

UNV, 2014

www.unv.org

OVERVIEW

In 2013, UNV commissioned a global evaluation on “UNV Contribution to Volunteer Infrastructures”. The evaluation covered national and regional projects aimed at strengthening volunteer infrastructure that were partnered and supported by UNV financially and technically.

“UNV’s Experience in Strengthening Volunteer Infrastructure” is a series of knowledge products based on the findings of the evaluation, included in one global and eight country reports (Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Liberia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Peru, Togo and Viet Nam).

This knowledge product shares UNV’s experience in supporting the National Volunteer Programme in Burkina Faso, Programme National de Volontariat au Burkina Faso (PNVB).

In a country with 58% of people below the age of 20 and limited access to formal employment, creating opportunities to capitalise on this under-used human resource is important. The volunteer programme (PNVB) is seen by the Ministry of Youth, Vocational Training and Employment, as having the potential to develop human resources, contribute towards employment of youth and being consistent with the fight against unemployment and poverty.

The objective of this programme is to engage young, qualified volunteers, enabling them to contribute to the development of the nation as well as gain experience that would increase their chance for employment.

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BENEFICIARIES AND ACTIVITIES The programme initially targeted six regions and currently covers all 12 regions, besides the capital city of Ouagadougou.

UNV’S ROLE

MINISTRY OF YOUTH,

VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT

THE ADMINISTRATIVE

BOARD

REGIONAL VOLUNTEERS

CENTRES

The Ministry of Youth and Vocational Training and Employment is PNVB’s host ministry. The PNVB office or Direction Générale is the central office based in Ouagadougou which oversees the smooth running of the programmes. The Directorate General has four departments: • Strategic planning and Monitoring

and Evaluation (M&E)• Communication and public relations• Administration and finance• Training and re-insertion.

The Administrative Board is a multi-stakeholders platform which includes 15 members, representatives of various groups: the government, the local authorities, CSOs, IVOs, trade Unions. The board meets twice per year and its main function is to oversee the governance and performance of PNVB.

Regional Volunteer Centres (CRVs) are decentralised PNVB structures which manage the volunteers on a daily basis. The centres are hosted by civil society organisations (CSOs) as a service provided to PNVB. CRVs are responsible for the recruitment and selection of volunteers and their supervision during their placements; they visit the volunteers once a month, provide mentoring and support in case of administrative or professional problems. The animators within these centres also provide training and sensitise potential host organisations.

From the initial phase, UNV supported a participatory approach involving not only the central government but also the local authorities CSOs, volunteer organisations and trade unions.

UNV provided technical assistance at PNVB’s request.

UNV provided initial funding for the pilot phase.

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KEY STRUCTURES

IMPLEMENTATION

The beneficiaries of this programme are:

• Young volunteers, aged 18 to 35, out of which 51% are women;

• Host organisations, such as local authorities, local associations, and community based organisations.

The key activities within the programme relate to the selection of volunteers, matching them with placements suitable for their profiles.

Young people apply and their details are recorded in a database. On the other hand, host organisations, selected based on certain criteria, express the need for a volunteer. Volunteers are then selected according to their profile, qualifications and motivation for volunteering. Regional volunteer centres recruit these volunteers, coordinate their induction training, support and monitor their assignment.

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IMPACT AND RESULTS

• Passing of the Law on Volunteering,

• Budgetary line for volunteering; Government funding for PNVB.

POLICY LEVEL

ORGANISATIONAL LEVEL

INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER

LEVEL

• About 25,000 volunteers have been recruited through PNVB since the beginning of the programme.

• Better data gathering and analysis is needed to conclude on the impact on the volunteers.

• The motivation of some volunteers seems more frequently linked to gathering work experience rather than a sense of service to the community.

• A functional team with departments covering various areas, such as planning, M&E, communications, administration and finance, training and re-insertion after the end of the assignment.

• PNVB has been able to recruit and support a large number of volunteers each year.

EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY

PNVB reached its objectives of creating a conducive environment

for volunteering and setting-up a process for

volunteering.

Mobilisation: growing number of

volunteer placements.PNVB actively participated

in the drafting of the Law on Volunteering of 2008 which regulates

volunteering.

Volunteering actively promoted by the

government, which greatly contributed to

the institutionalisation of volunteering, facilitated

multi-stakeholder involvement and made the PNVB a functioning

organisation.

The national coordination of

the PNVB has been operationalised and so have the regional volunteer centres.

The Government has committed some funding for the

foreseeable future.

UNV is extremely grateful for the outstanding support received from UN Online Volunteers in designing some of the infographics for this knowledge product

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