NIGER VOLUNTEER INFRASTRUCTURE, Government Forum, 20th IAVE World Volunteer Conference, Panama 2008

Mahamane I. BABY, Chief Technical Advisor, UNDP
NIGER VOLUNTEER INFRASTRUCTURE PRESENTATION

PRESENTATION OUTLINE
CONTEXT
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
RESULTS ACHIEVED
EXPECTATIONS
LESSONS LEARNED

CONTEXT
The Niger Volunteer Infrastructure development was a recommendation of the 2001 IYV National Committee (Niger)
Niger had a long tradition in volunteerism both the modern and traditional forms
Michele Falavigna, the then RR sold the idea to the Prime Minister of Niger who welcomed it.
Prior to this contact, there was no legal framework regulating volunteerism in Niger
There was a strong political support from the Government of Niger to set up the Infrastructure
In 2005, the then UNV PO set up a committee composed of representatives of the civil society, the government and the private sector
The Committee developed terms of references to request UNV’s support for the feasibility study to set up the Niger Volunteer Infrastructure in 2005. The study was conducted early 2006.
The Project Document was signed in September 2006.
The Prime Minister of Niger launched the Project on December 5, 2006

DESCRIPTION
Title: Project for the Establishment of a National Volunteer Infrastructure for Development in Niger
Objectives: i) support the Niger Government to set up a legal framework for volunteerism in Niger; ii) to mobilize 100 national volunteers to reinforce the capacities of civil society organizations, local communities and the private sector; iii) to promote the spirit of volunteerism within the Niger society.

Partners:
UNDP
UNVP
Government of Niger+ Luxemburg
AFVP (the French Volunteers)
Civil Society + Private Sector

Critical events:
The greatest supporter of the initiative was the then Prime Minister, impeached in June 2007
Mr. Falavigna, the then RR, also pushed forward the initiative by encouraging others to join in.
Volunteerism is not considered a subject of « legal » act in the constitution of Niger
The participatory nature of the Project that involves Government, Partners, Civil Society and Private is a great asset of the Project

RESULTS ACHIEVED
The Government provided the Project with a building to be used as Headquarters in 2006.
Solemn ceremony organized in presence of four (4) Ministers of Niger to hand in all the draft texts on volunteerism in April 2007, largely covered by national media
Adoption of the decree on national volunteerism for development in Niger on August 2, 2007 (signed by the President)
Finalization of all remaining texts on volunteerism:
Law on the creation of the Volunteer Infrastructure
Decree completing the law on the Volunteer Infrastructure
Status of the Volunteer Infrastructure
Signature of the text (« arrêté ») completing the decree (signed by the Minister of Community Development)
Development of various strategies:
Communication strategy
Training strategy
Resource mobilization strategy (on-going)

All this work was done through task forces set up by the Government, including civil society and private sector representatives
Establishment of a roster
The Project had to use Government local agencies to collect data on candidates
Virtual exchange plat-form

EXPECTATIONS
The Government of Niger has requested that the Project produce a Project document to request funding from Canada. Contacts are currently on-going to mobilize resources
In May 2008, the Project is expecting the vote of the Law on the Niger Volunteer Infrastructure that will replace the current UNV-UNDP Project

LESSONS LEARNED
The sustainability of a volunteer infrastructure and the creation of a legal framework for volunteerism are mostly subjects of sovereignty.
To give more credibility and transparency to a volunteer infrastructure, the involvement of civil society organizations and the private is a great asset.
Never take for granted the creation of a volunteer infrastructure if a thorough feasibility study (including legal implications) is not undertaken.
MUCHAS GRACIAS!

Resource: 

PRESENTATION IAVE CONFERENCE PANAMA.pdf