FAQ for host organizations
Which organizations can use the Online Volunteering service?
Organizations receiving the support of online volunteers via the Online Volunteering service are:
- Non-profit (civil society organizations, academic/educational institutions, UN agencies and international organizations, government institutions)
- Officially registered in their country of origin
- Currently active and operational, with projects for the benefit of developing countries and with a clear commitment to the goals of sustainable human development
- Non-discriminatory and in alignment with the principles and Charter of the United Nations.
What kind of assignments can I publish on the Online Volunteering website?
We publish assignments that:
- Contribute to sustainable human development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
- Online volunteers can undertake from anywhere in the world.
- Can be delivered via the Internet. Assignment outputs can for example be documents, emails of advice, or online services such as moderating online discussions or networking.
We do not publish assignments that:
- Require a volunteer to work on-site at a particular location.
- Ask online volunteers to engage in activities that run counter to the principles and Charter of the United Nations.
- Require an online volunteer to engage in direct negotiations with third parties on behalf of the host organization (e.g. directly solicit funds, establish partnerships or agreements), as host organizations have no contractual relationship with online volunteers.
- Require online volunteers to pay a fee or make a donation.
How do I register my organization?
Create your personal account.
The first step is to become a registered user by filling the registration form in the Join section. Every registered user has access to a personal page ('My OV'). You access My OV by logging in with your username and password that you select when you register. As a registered user of the Online Volunteering service, you will receive the monthly Online Volunteering newsletter.
Fill the application for host organizations.
As a registered user, you can apply for your organization to use
the Online Volunteering service. Your My OV page provides the
link to the "Group" application form: Apply for a Group (host organization) account.
Before you start the group application process, please ensure you have the following data at hand:
- Contact information and description of your organization's
mission and activities
- Copy of official registration certificate and registration
number (for non-NGOs other evidence of your agency's legitimacy
and non-profit status)
- Contact details of two references external to your organisation
- Information on any affiliations with umbrella organizations
(if applicable)
Screening of your organization's application.
All applying organizations undergo a screening process to ensure
their legitimacy and the quality of information provided. If the
required information is complete and your organization is found
to operate in accordance with the host
organization criteria, your organization's profile is published
in the Online Volunteering site and you get access to the set
of Online Volunteering tools in your My Group page (your organization's
account), which is linked from your My OV page (your personal
account).
What is a "Group"?
A "Group" is your organization's account on the Online Volunteering website. A "Group" can represent your entire organization, as in most cases for smaller NGOs, or a department or specific project of your organization, as may be the case for larger organizations.
One registered user can own several "Groups". If you are affiliated with several organizations, or are involved in several activity lines of one organization that you would like to administer in separate accounts, you can create a number of group accounts.
One "Group" account can be used by several members. You can invite your colleagues or online volunteers to co-manage your online volunteering activities on your group account.
As an approved host organization, how do I connect with and engage online volunteers?
Once your organization's application has been approved by the Online Volunteering team, you have access to all Online Volunteering tools in your My Group area.
Submit your online volunteering assignment.
Fill the "Submit Assignment" form in your My Group area. In the assignment submission form, clearly describe the tasks and required qualifications, the development context of the assignment, and select the appropriate search criteria.
Approval and publishing of your assignment by the Online Volunteering team.
If your assignment is found to be in accordance with the assignment criteria, it is published on the Online Volunteering site, and can be accessed by all site visitors via the assignments search.
Receive, review and select applications for your assignment.
Applicants to your assignment use the online application form. You receive notifications about applications in the Message Center of your My OV page. All applications are listed in your Manage Volunteers page in your My Group area.
You are entirely responsible for selecting the online volunteers out of your applicants. Please change the status of your online volunteers applicants accordingly from "pending" to either "accepted" or "removed" in your Manage Volunteers page.
You may use the customizable automated messages in your My Group area to draft standard responses to your applicants.
Take your assignment off the public list.
You change your assignment status in your Manage Assignments page in your My Group area. Marking a published assignment as "filled" takes it off the public list of assignments. For definitions of alternative assignment statuses, see your Manage Assignments page.
Collaborate with the online volunteers you selected.
What do I need to do at the end of an assignment?
Mark both your assignment and your online volunteer entries as "completed".
You make the status changes in the Manage Assignments and Manage Volunteers page of your My Group area.
Fill the evaluation form for online volunteers.
The evaluation form is linked to your "completed" volunteer entries. We use the information you enter in the evaluation form to monitor the quality of the Online Volunteering service and we do not share it with your online volunteers.
Express your appreciation for your online volunteer's contributions with a certificate/letter of recognition.
Share your online volunteering experiences.
In addition to the evaluation form, the Online Volunteering service appreciates any kind of additional feedback or articles to be published in the Stories section.
Do you offer a database of volunteer profiles to select from?
We offer a list of online volunteer assignments published by development organizations that individuals around the world can apply for. We do not offer a roster of volunteer profiles.
Can I get funding through the UNV Online Volunteering service?
The UNV OV service offers an alternative way of support, by connecting development organizations with expertise, ideas, and contacts shared by online volunteers around the world. We do not offer any kind of funding.
Can I publish assignments in languages other than English?
The site functionality and content offered by the Online Volunteering service are currently available only in English. However, host organizations can publish assignments in Spanish and French. The search criteria allow for assignments to be labelled with any language that an assignment may require.
For information on Privacy and Terms and Conditions please go to the respective pages.
