Document Centre
This is where you will find all the documents you need as a weltwärts partner to deal with assignments, incomers or accompanying measures.
Getting to know weltwärts
Framework concepts
The catalogue of quality standards for the weltwärts programme is a framework document that primarily describes the requirements the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has set for the German-based implementing organisations in the weltwärts pro-gramme’s North-South and South-North components. It was drawn up jointly by representatives of civil society and government bodies. It provides the basis for external certification of the Ger-man-based implementing organisations by independent bodies. All stakeholders in the programme acknowledge the catalogue of quality requirements as the binding framework for their participation in the programme.
The “weltwärts” funding programme is managed jointly by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and civil society organisations. The two sides have established a special body – the Programme Steering Committee (PSC) – to ensure the programme is run and developed in a responsible manner.
Old framework concepts
The guideline describes the key objectives, legal and financial aspects and other elements of the framework in which the North-South component and South-North component operate, plus the accompanying measures for the weltwärts volunteer service.
Index:
1. Objectives, 2. Duration of assignment, 3. Volunteer requirements, 4. German host organization requirements, 5. Accompanying mentoring and training, 6. Host entity requirements, 7. Sending organization requirements, 8. Pilot phase, quality assurance and evaluation.
Implementing the North-South component
Getting to know the North-South component
The guideline describes the key objectives, legal and financial aspects and other elements of the framework in which the North-South component and South-North component operate, plus the accompanying measures for the weltwärts volunteer service.
The catalogue of quality standards for the weltwärts programme is a framework document that primarily describes the requirements the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has set for the German-based implementing organisations in the weltwärts pro-gramme’s North-South and South-North components. It was drawn up jointly by representatives of civil society and government bodies. It provides the basis for external certification of the Ger-man-based implementing organisations by independent bodies. All stakeholders in the programme acknowledge the catalogue of quality requirements as the binding framework for their participation in the programme.
The volunteer agreement
It is the responsibility of the German sending organization that the agreements with the volunteers contain the current program requirements. This affects also the data protection regulations.
Each sending organisation is obliged to inform its volunteers about the processing of their data in accordance with the provisions of the European Data Protection Regulation (EU-DS-GVO) and the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG).
Pedagogical support
This ICJA guidebook is thoughtfully designed by practitioners to provide guidelines and information to practitioners, the projects/host projects. The purpose of this book is also to assure the quality of support for the volunteers.
Accompanying volunteers in crises: A guide for mentors and tutors
The guide (of Welthaus Bielefeld) aims to systematise the experiences that mentors and tutors have gathered in different countries since the inception of the weltwärts programme. These experiences were recorded to develop a practical guideline for the support of volunteers, especially in difficult situations.
"Sexualised violence can happen anywhere! Wherever and whenever it happens, it is an injustice!" The flyer provides advice for volunteers who have experienced sexualised violence. It contains information on how sexualised violence is defined, its impacts and consequences, medical care options and, most importantly, various organisations where victims can seek advice.
Critical Perspectives on Donations made by International Volunteers from the Global North within the North-South Context.
Visa and security matters
This strategy document outlines the framework for the “country-specific contact points for visa and security matters” (formerly referred to as “country contact persons”) plus the tasks to be performed by the organisations/individuals who perform this role.
The object of investigation is the instrument Country Contact Persons (CCP) of the weltwärts development volunteer service which has been introduced as a recommendation of the evaluation of the weltwärts programme carried out in 2010/11. A first pilot phase started in twelve focus countries. In a second phase, starting from May 2015 onwards, six further countries were included. The pilot phase was first programmed for two years (10/2013 to 12/2015) and then extended by another year (until 12/2016). According to the CCP-concept, the instrument pursued the following three objectives:
- The security of the volunteers is enhanced by assessing the security situation and the safety, security and crisis management of the sending organisations is improved.
- The coordination between relevant stakeholders of the weltwärts programme at country level is improved by providing relevant information.
- The sending organisations are supported regarding the application for visa and residence permits (i.e. if necessary and agreed, by CCP collecting necessary documents for the application and verifying their completeness).
The idea for this checklist was born during the weltwaerts partner conference in South Africa in 2016. It became clear during the conference, that there was a substantial interest by local partners and German sending organizations in a simple tool, which would offer local partners orientation and support with providing security for their international volunteers.
Promoting diversity
Final Report of Three Partner Workshops weltwärts everyone inclusive! (weltwärts alle inklusive!) in India, Mexico and Ghana
Findings of the volunteer surveys
The weltwärts programme gives young people the opportunity to get involved in projects abroad and gain new perspectives. When they return home, we ask all participants about their experiences in great depth. This allows us to determine whether the programme is meeting requirements and where we can make improvements.
Here, we present the results collected from all those who completed their service in the Global South and returned between November 2021 and November 2022.
The Umfragezentrum Bonn (Bonn Survey Centre) carried out the survey on our behalf.
This report presents the findings of the seventh annual volunteer survey for the weltwärts programme (North-South). Following the surveys of the 2013 to 2018 returnees, this survey looked at the volunteers who returned from service in 2020. The survey was again conducted by Umfragezentrum Bonn.
This report presents the findings of the seventh annual volunteer survey for the weltwärts programme (North-South). Following the surveys of the 2013 to 2018 returnees, this survey looked at the volunteers who returned from service in 2019. The survey was again conducted by Umfragezentrum Bonn.
The findings of the latest survey again corroborate the previous years’ positive results, with 94% of the respondents stating that they were satisfied overall with their voluntary service.
This report presents the findings of the sixth annual volunteer survey for the North-South component of the weltwärts programme, which looked at the volunteers who returned from assignment in 2018. The survey was again conducted by Umfragezentrum Bonn.
This report presents the findings of the fourth annual volunteer survey. Following the surveys of the 2013 to 2015 returnees, this survey looked at the volunteers who returned from service in 2016. It is thus now possible to compare the findings for four years of the weltwärts programme.
The volunteer survey was first introduced in 2013 and has been conducted annually since then. This year’s survey addressed all participants who returned to Germany in 2015. The findings were extremely positive overall, with 94% of respondents expressing satisfaction with their volunteer service and three quarters stating that they would recommend the weltwärts programme to their friends.
This report presents the findings of the second annual volunteer survey. Following the survey of the 2013 returnees, this survey looked at the volunteers who returned from service in 2014.
This report presents the findings of the first annual volunteer survey. It is part of the weltwärts quality system introduced in 2013.
What are the impacts?
In 2018, Engagement Global published a brochure to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the weltwärts development volunteer service. In it, the various stakeholders on the programme relate their weltwärts experiences. The brochure is available in English, German, French and Spanish.
In 2017, the German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) published the results of its comprehensive study on the effectiveness of the weltwärts programme’s North-South component. One of the study’s findings was that volunteers continue to benefit from their experience long after their assignment and that their new knowledge, skills and outlook also have an effect on their families and friends.
Implementing the South-North component
Getting to know the South-North component
The guideline describes the key objectives, legal and financial aspects and other elements of the framework in which the North-South component and South-North component operate, plus the accompanying measures for the weltwärts volunteer service.
Index:
1. Objectives, 2. Duration of assignment, 3. Volunteer requirements, 4. German host organization requirements, 5. Accompanying mentoring and training, 6. Host entity requirements, 7. Sending organization requirements, 8. Pilot phase, quality assurance and evaluation.
Between 2015 and 2017, Syspons GmbH evaluated the South-North component of the weltwärts volunteer service on behalf of the BMZ. The aim was to conduct an independent, external assessment of the component’s design, implementation, impacts to date, lessons learned, organisation and quality management. The results include specific recommendations that will be incorporated as the South-North component is developed further.
Pedagogical support
"Sexualised violence can happen anywhere! Wherever and whenever it happens, it is an injustice!" The flyer provides advice for volunteers who have experienced sexualised violence. It contains information on how sexualised violence is defined, its impacts and consequences, medical care options and, most importantly, various organisations where victims can seek advice.
The publication of Welthaus Bielefeld contains a series of tips, instructions, tools and reflection exercises on the topic of suitable selection processes for the South-North component. The publication was developed in an exemplary participatory process in which the perspectives of all those involved in the selection process were incorporated.
The file can be requested in original size from the weltwärts Coordination Unit.
Findings of the volunteer surveys
The weltwärts programme gives young people the opportunity to get involved in projects abroad and gain new perspectives. When they return home, we ask all participants about
their experiences in great depth. This allows us to determine whether the programme is meeting requirements and where we can make improvements. Here, we present the results collected from all those who completed their service in Germany and returned between November 2021 and November 2022.
The Umfragezentrum Bonn (Bonn Survey Centre) carried out the survey on our behalf.
This report presents the findings of the third annual volunteer survey for the South-North component of the weltwärts programme. The survey, conducted by Umfragezentrum Bonn, was aimed at all volunteers who had completed their volunteer service in Germany. The positive findings indicate a very high level of satisfaction with the programme on the part of South-North volunteers.
This report presents the findings of the first annual volunteer survey for the South-North component of the weltwärts programme. The survey, conducted by Umfragezentrum Bonn, was aimed at all volunteers who had completed service in Germany. The positive findings indicate a very high level of satisfaction with the programme on the part of South-North volunteers.
This report presents the findings of the first annual volunteer survey for the South-North component of the weltwärts programme. The survey, conducted by Umfragezentrum Bonn, was aimed at all volunteers who had completed service in Germany between 1 January 2019 and 15 November 2019. The positive findings indicate a very high level of satisfaction with the programme on the part of South-North volunteers. 97% of respondents were satisfied overall with their voluntary service This very good result confirms that the weltwärts programme continues to meet the needs of young adults and that the organisations responsible in Germany and abroad implement the development volunteers’ service diligently.
What are the impacts?
Das Dokument enthält die drei Wirkungsannahmen für den weltwärts-Freiwilligendienst.
Between 2015 and 2017, Syspons GmbH evaluated the South-North component of the weltwärts volunteer service on behalf of the BMZ. The aim was to conduct an independent, external assessment of the component’s design, implementation, impacts to date, lessons learned, organisation and quality management. The results include specific recommendations that will be incorporated as the South-North component is developed further.
In 2018, Engagement Global published a brochure to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the weltwärts development volunteer service. In it, the various stakeholders on the programme relate their weltwärts experiences. The brochure is available in English, German, French and Spanish.
Implementing accompanying measures
Getting to know accompanying measures
Outline document on the funding of accompanying measures as part of the weltwärts programme
Building networks
Documentation of partner conferences - Europe
The partner conference took place from 21st to 25th November 2022 in Berlin, Germany.
The partner conference took place from 3rd – 7th October 2022 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The documentation is in english and spanish.
The partner conference took place from 11th to 13th September 2018 in Berlin.
In May 2016 the first partner conference of the South- North component of the weltwärts programme was held in Berlin. Around 60 representatives from the different stakeholders met with the aim to discuss first experiences, obstacles, opportunities and benefits of the new South-North component of the weltwärts programme. With this documentation of the conference the ICJA conference team would like to present its results in order to be able to follow up on the findings and to put into action some of the very concrete ideas and recommendations.
The conference took place from 9th to 14th May 2016 in Berlin, Germany.
Documentation of partner conferences - Africa
The partner conference took place from 7th to 11th October 2019 in Gaborone, Botswana.
The partner conference took place from 3rd – 7th October 2022 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The partner conference took place from 27th November to 1st December 2018 in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The partner conference took place from 20th to 23rd April 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The partner conference took place from 12th to 16th December 2016 in Accra, Ghana.
The partner conference took place from 13th to 16th April 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The documentation is in german.
The partner conference took place from 1st to 4th June 2015 in Limbe, Cameroon.
The partner conference took place from 12th to 15th November 2014 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
The partner conference took place from 4th until 8th December 2014 in Kigali, Rwanda.
The partner conference took place from 10th to 14th December 2012 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The partner conference took place from 12th to 16th November 2012 in Accra, Ghana.
The partner conference took place from 14th to 17th November 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Documentation of partner conferences - Asia
The partner conference took place from 14th to 18th November 2022 in Cebu City, Philippines.
The partner conference took place from 19th to 22nd February 2019 in Nagpur, India.
The partner conference took place from 19th to 22nd February 2019 in Nagpur, India.
The partner conference took place from 10th to 14th October 2017 in Kakhreti, Georgia.
The partner conference took place from 26th to 30th October 2016 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The partner conference took place from 24th to 28th November 2015 in Bangalore, India.
The partner conference took place from 3rd to 6th November 2014 in Nagpur, India.
The partner conference took place from 15th to 18th November 2012 in Manila, Philippines.
The partner conference took place from 1st to 4th October 2012 in Nagpur, India.