Online volunteers...

are people who commit their time and skills over the Internet, freely and without financial considerations, for the benefit of society.

Spread the Word

Tell others about the Online Volunteering service so that more development organizations can benefit from the support of online volunteers.

Tips and resources

Research studies:
- Acevedo, Manuel. 2005. Volunteering in the information society: Solidarity@Network_Society.Int. Research paper.
- Amichai-Hamburger, Yair. 2008. Potential and promise of online volunteering. Computers in Human Behavior 24 (2): 544-562.
- Murray, Vic and Yvonne Harrison. 2002. Virtual volunteering: Current status and future prospects. Toronto: Canadian Centre for Philanthropy.

Human Development

Human Development is about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. People are the real wealth of nations. Development is thus about expanding the choices people have to lead lives that they value. And it is thus about much more than economic growth, which is only a means – if a very important one – of enlarging people’s choices.

Fundamental to enlarging these choices is building human capabilities, the range of things that people can do or be in life. The most basic capabilities for human development are to lead long and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to have access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living and to be able to participate in the life of the community. Without these, many choices are simply not available, and many opportunities in life remain inaccessible.

Read more about human development:
United Nations Development Programme

Millennium Development Goals

The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015 – form a blueprint agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions. They have galvanized unprecedented efforts to meet the needs of the world’s poorest.

Read more about the Millennium Development Goals:
United Nations

Capacity Development

Capacity is the ability of individuals, institutions and societies to perform functions, solve problems, and set and achieve objectives in a sustainable manner. Capacity Development (CD) is thereby the process through which individuals, organizations and societies obtain, strengthen and maintain the capabilities to set and achieve their own development objectives over time.

The success of development efforts hinges on the availability of sufficient in-country capacity. Financial resources alone, including official development assistance, are not sufficient to promote human development in a sustainable manner. Without a conducive enabling environment, well-functioning organizations and a high-performing human resource base, countries lack the foundation needed to plan, implement and review their national and local development strategies.

Read more about capacity development:
United Nations Development Programme

Civil Society

Over the last decade there has been a considerable increase both in the number of civil society organizations and in the scope of their activities. They are playing an increasingly influential role in setting and implementing development agenda across the globe.

Read more about civil society:
United Nations Development Programme
Portal of National NGO Platforms
CIVICUS

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and development

Information and Communication technologies have reduced the age-old barriers of time and distance, and have become key drivers of social and economic progress.

Read more about ICT:
International Telecommunications Union