The EU Aid Volunteers initiative, funded by the European Commission’s department for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and managed by the EU Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture (EACEA), is an opportunity to promote cooperation among active European citizens, working together with communities in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or post-crises.
The EU Aid Volunteers initiative offers:
Opportunities of volunteering (in presence or online)
in humanitarian projects worldwide, showing solidarity with vulnerable communities out of the EU.
Technical assistance
for organisations, based in Europe and working in the humanitarian sector in third countries, to strengthen their capacities to participate in the EU Aid Volunteers initiative according to the 18 standar.
Capacity building
for local staff and volunteers of organisations in countries hit by disasters or crises to foster a more effective and principled humanitarian response.
Until now?
760
volunteers deployed
28
non-EU based countries of deployment
205
certified sending and hosting organisations
Why this Initiative?
135 million people (OCHA/Jan 2018) are affected by natural and man-made disasters each year.
In the aftermath of a disaster, an affected population needs clean water, shelter, food, protection and, as well, recuperation of its daily life.
Also, disaster-prone areas need to be well prepared to avoid catastrophes.
Humanitarian organisations and volunteers support local communities and civil society in respondingto these basic needs.
¿WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DOES THE INICIATIVE OFFER?
TO THE VOLUNTEERS:
Opportunities open to volunteers with various profiles and levels of experience (junior and senior) to contribute their experience and motivation in humanitarian contexts.
Possibility for active local volunteers to apply and gain experience in the international humanitarian context.
Online volunteering for those who want to contribute to global causes without leaving their homes.
TO SENDING OR HOSTING ORGANIZATIONS:
Establish new partnerships with sending and hosting organizations and strengthen them.
Become organizations that build alliances and connect peoples, responding to and raising awareness of global challenges.
Organizations will be equipped with additional resources and funds to strengthen their capabilities.
Opportunities and funds for communication and awareness-raising activities that strengthen the role of active citizenship in tackling global challenges.
Professional support from trained and well-prepared volunteers to communities affected by disasters.
Compliance with required standards and EUAV certification can give access to other voluntary systems, such as the European Solidarity Corps, without having to go through a separate accreditation mechanism.
The European Union is the world’s largest donor of humanitarian aid. Together, the Member States and the European institutions contribute more than half of the official world humanitarian aid.
The Humanitarian Office of the European Commission (ECHO) was created in 1992 as an expression of European solidarity with people in need around the world. In its 20 years of existence, it has provided 14 billion euros of humanitarian assistance to victims of conflicts and disasters in 140 countries around the world.
In 2004 ECHO became the General Directorate of Humanitarian Aid before integrating Civil Protection in 2010 for better coordination and response to disasters within and outside Europe.
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