UN Volunteers VMC: Developing an Integrated Volunteer Management Cycle (VMC) Platform to Support Efficient Growth
Since 2017, Community Systems Foundation (CSF) has been supporting the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) through the development and the maintenance of a Volunteer Management Cycle (VMC) platform. As a core system in organizational processes, the UMC enables UNV to meet its mandate through the consolidation of all services and the standardization of processes. (1)
As the technical partner, CSF redeveloped the platform, aiming to speed up the recruitment processes and assignment of volunteer workers globally. In doing so, the system reduces the workload of UN Volunteer personnel both at headquarters and in the field. (2)
Infographic obtained from 2018 UN Volunteers Annual Report. This infographic outlines the total number of volunteers across all UNV systems
The Volunteer Management Application Module (VMAM) platform allows recruiters to manage the hiring process. Additionally, the tool also facilitates candidates to apply for volunteer assignments. Since its release in 2017 (3), the UNVMAM service has grown steadily to include over 7,200 Volunteers. (4)
Before CSF’s involvement with the project, the systems that supported business processes around Volunteer Management consisted of several applications and tools. In addition, many UNV field units developed their own platforms and systems to support the recruitment and assignment management processes. The relaunch of a strengthened global system served to consolidate all services and ensure standardization.
With a main target of UNV Strategic Framework (SF) for 2014-2017 being to substantially increase the number and character of UNV assignments and of individuals deployed as UN Volunteers annually, the UNV team required an optimization of integrated services to efficiently manage increased volume. In turn, CSF continues to aid UN Volunteers as a technical partner that aims to achieve these priorities.
Above and beyond the software development, CSF technical staff engaged in training field and HQ users on the tools to help personnel understand the modules of the UNV portal.
Through CSF’s technical assistance, the current Volunteer Management Platform automates and simplifies business processes to capture data and monitor the Volunteer Management Cycle to streamline services and processes.
(1)UN Volunteers VMC IC. [online] Available at: https://www.communitysystemsfoundation.org/uploads/1/9/9/2/19920247/unv_vmc_ic_-__p0487.pdf
(2)UN Volunteers VMC IC. [online] Available at:https://www.communitysystemsfoundation.org/uploads/1/9/9/2/19920247/unv_vmc_ic_-__p0487.pdf
(3)‘We launched a new platform: Volunteer Management Application Module (VMAM)’ | UNV. [online] Available at: https://www.unv.org/we-launch-new-platform-VMAM
(4)Volunteering in Motion: UNV ANNUAL REPORT 2018. [online] Available at: https://www.unv.org/sites/default/files/2018%20AR_web%20%28002%29.pdf