Volunteer Cooperation Program

Program Description

The Volunteer Cooperation Program (VCP), managed by Voluntary Sector - Programs Directorate of Canadian Partnership Branch, provides financial support to the programs of volunteer-cooperation agencies (VCAs).

VCAs support CIDA's mandate and objectives in meeting the Millennium Development Goals. They work in a manner consistent with the principles of effective development assistance by building the capacity of developing-country partners to improve economic and social well-being. Through placements of qualified volunteers and volunteer-exchange programs, VCAs undertake to define and meet local needs in a sustainable manner. By engaging a large and diverse spectrum of Canadian volunteers, VCAs promote a better understanding of international development issues to the Canadian public at large.

Through their strong connection to communities in developing countries, VCAs are well placed to identify emerging priorities and offer innovative programming.

VCAs engage Canadians directly by offering them volunteering opportunities by providing information on development issues, debating international cooperation, and offering people from the developing world an opportunity to speak with Canadians directly on matters of concern.

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Eligibility

Organizational Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for VCP funding, an organization must:

1. be incorporated or registered as a not-for-profit organization under the laws of Canada, a province or a territory;
2. have its main place of business in Canada;
3. have had a minimum of three years' experience in cooperating with developing-country partners and managing or delivering extensive international development initiatives in at least one developing country;
4. have a transparent internal governance structure with regularly elected or appointed board of directors (or governing body under another designation) that sets policy and appoints an executive that is accountable to the board; and
5. have audited financial statements for the two most recent fiscal years, the latest having been completed within the last 18 months.

Note: Organizations that meet eligibility criteria will not necessarily receive funding.

Volunteer Cooperation Program Eligibility Criteria

VCAs are those organizations that have specifically identified themselves as volunteer cooperation agencies, using volunteers as the key delivery mechanism of their contribution to international development. There are currently ten VCAs who are participating in the VCP and receiving funding support from CIDA. Any new VCA partner would be expected to bring a distinctive contribution to the VCP in terms of a programming niche and would be expected to work collaboratively with the current VCP roster of partners.

A VCP-funded program is not simply a collection of one-off projects. It is a long-term strategic partnership between a Canadian not-for-profit organization or consortium and one or more developing country organizations. This partnership is guided by a coherent methodology and jointly developed strategic plan that addresses locally identified development needs and is integrated into local strategies in coordination with other development actors. A program is planned and implemented through North-South, South-South, South-North, regional and global partnerships, with results continuing beyond the life of the initiative.

With a focus on addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by strengthening the capacities of developing-country organizations, increasing the policy influence of poor and marginalized groups, and engaging Canadians in international development, the final aim of the VCP "is to help establish the institutions, capacity and human resource base necessary for sustainable, self-reliant development." A Policy Statement on Strengthening Aid Effectiveness. September 2002.

To be eligible, a proposed programshould:

1. address one or more CIDA priority sectors (see MDGs);
2. have a budget that respects the VCP's cost-sharing practice;
3. be carried out in partnership with at least one developing-country partner organization; and
4. demonstrate the capacity to deliver a volunteer cooperation program.

Note: Programs that meet eligibility criteria will not necessarily receive funding.

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Assessment Criteria

Organizations that meet basic eligibility requirements can apply to VCP for cost-shared program funding. Funding decisions are based on detailed proposal analysis, using the following criteria:

A) Support of CIDA's mandate and priorities

The proposal's coherence with CIDA priorities and objectives is assessed on the following basis:

• The program is aligned with CIDA's mandate and priorities, including a contribution to the MDGs, sectoral priorities, geographic focus, and gender and environmental considerations.
• The program contributes to at least one Voluntary Sector Program objective:
  • capacity development of developing-country organizations;
  • enhanced policy influence of poor and marginalized groups; and,
  • increased engagement of a large and diverse spectrum of Canadians in international development.
• The program is geographically focused to address priority development needs of poor and marginalized populations. The locally identified needs it addresses are relevant to the local context, coherent with the stated priorities of national development plans or poverty reduction strategies, and coordinated with other national and international development actors.
• The program is in compliance with CIDA's policy on gender equality and contributes to at least one of the gender equality results desired, as defined in CIDA's Policy Objectives.
• Environmental considerations have been integrated into programming.

B) Results and value for money

The projected costs of the proposal are weighed against the expected benefits to provide an indication of the value for money of the proposed initiative on the following basis:

• Results: The baseline indicators and needs are clearly and locally defined; there is a clear and logical link between identified needs, program approach and results; results are clear, realistic, and measurable; there is evidence that the results/benefits will continue after CIDA's involvement ends.
• Value: The relationship between proposed resource use and results is reasonable; there is clear potential for Canada and Canadians to add value; and the proponent has the appropriate capacity to leverage diversified sources of funding for the initiative

C) Likelihood of success / capacity of the proponent

The feasibility of the initiative to achieve expected results is assessed against success factors on the following basis:

• The level of local ownership, partnership, and shared accountability for results.
• The level of relevant sectoral, geographic, and management experience of the proponent.
• The technical soundness of the program methodology.
• A weighing and presentation of assumptions, risks, and appropriate risk-mitigation strategies.
• The initiative is incorporated into the organization's strategic plan and supported by its board of directors.

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Application Process

Applications can be submitted at any time, and are assessed on a continuous basis (no time-bound calls for proposals).

A VCA program proposal should be between 20 and 50 pages long, excluding the required appendices. The proposal should provide CIDA with a concise, but thorough, description of your program and its various components, referred to as program activities.

1. Download and fill out the Volunteer Cooperation Program Application Form (PDF and RTF Format).
2. Attach the required supporting documentation as described in the application form.
3. Please send your completed application form and supporting documentation electronically to: cpb.proposal@acdi-cida.gc.ca.

Supporting documentation can also be faxed to Attn.: Operations Division at (819) 953-6357 or mailed to:

Operations Division
Canadian Partnership Branch
Canadian International Development Agency
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0G4
Canada

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Links

This section provides other useful links to relevant background documentation for the Volunteer Cooperation Program:

• Results-Based Management
• Equality Between Women and Men
• Contribution Agreement: General Terms and Conditions
• Environmental Assessment Handbook
• Frameworks for Integrating Gender Equality
• Gender Results Examples Table

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PDF Format

Note: to read the PDF version you need Adobe Acrobat Reader on your system. If the Adobe download site is not accessible to you, you can download Acrobat Reader from an accessible page. If you choose not to use Acrobat Reader you can have the PDF file converted to HTML or ASCII text by using one of the conversion services offered by Adobe.

Volunteer Cooperation Program Application Form (444 KB, 8 pages)

To read the RTF version, use the document conversion features available in most modern word processing software, or use a file viewer capable of reading RTF.

Volunteer Cooperation Program Application Form (RTF, 382 KB, 8 pages)