3.2. Who is NRCS Member?
A Nigerian Red Cross Society member is a person who has formally agreed to the conditions of membership as stipulated in the Statutes of the Nigeria Red Cross Society.
1.4 Scope
This policy applies to all Nigeria Red Cross Societys structures: the Headquarter, State branch, division and detachments/Units.
1.5 Basic Principles.
The volunteer policy of NRCS shall be guided by the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement as outlined in the national societys STATUTES (Statute 1 sub 4). In an effort to implement this policy, the Nigeria Red Cross Society and its Secretariat shall be:-
Promoting volunteerism as significant and positive contribution to improving lives of vulnerable people, and to strengthening community and civil society in their efforts to become more self reliant.
Understanding and valuing volunteering as a means of creating and supporting a network of people who are available to support the National Societys humanitarian activities in an emergency situation and in long term activities.
Provide appropriate personal development opportunities and reward volunteers whenever possible and appropriate.
Recognize the role of the volunteers as major contributors to the development of the National Society based on the Principle of Voluntarism.
1.6 Responsibilities of Nigerian Red Cross Society: - Nigerian Red Cross Society will have the following responsibilities towards its volunteers.
Provide a code of conduct, which sets out the rights and responsibilities of the National Society and its volunteers and ensure adherence to it.
Engage its volunteers in the planning and implementation of the National Societys strategy and annual plan of action.
Recruit volunteers for specific, explicitly described roles and tasks on basis of their profile, competence, commitment and potential but irrespective of their race, ethnicity, sex, religious belief, disability, and age.
Ensure volunteer participation is gender sensitive for the effective delivery of services and activities.
Provide appropriate orientation, training, placement, rewarding, recognition, and training opportunities.
Ensure that the views of volunteers are sought and acted upon at all stages of programme design, development, implementation and evaluation.
Provide the volunteers with appropriate visibility, identity and equipments during the implementation of the National Societys’ activities.
Provide appropriate protection for volunteers while carrying out the Society activities.
Provide skills transfer as means of capacity building among the volunteers.
Reimburse relevant expenses incurred by volunteers in the course of carrying out approved volunteering tasks, prior approval should be given by the concerned Nigerian Red Cross Society official for a volunteer to undertake a given activity.
Standardize incentives for its volunteers to ensure equitable balance at all levels.
In case where a permanent employment opportunities occurs, due consideration must be given to committed and potential volunteers, provided that they meet the needed requirements.
1.7 Rights and obligations of volunteers
Rights
Choose to become member of the Nigerian Red Cross Society as defined by the societys Statutes and membership guidelines.
Be recognized and regarded as Nigerian Red Cross Society human resources.
Have appropriate training and opportunity for personal capacity development to be able to undertake agreed tasks.
Have appropriate materials provided to be able to embark on agreed tasks or roles and duties.
Accept or refuse any task or role in accordance with the Code of conduct and fundamental principle of voluntary service.
Present proposals and raise issues with any authority in the National Society.
Duties/obligations
Act in accordance with the Nigerian Red Cross Society Code of Conduct and with the Seven Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and promote its dissemination.
Respect the regulation on the use of the emblem and prevent its misuse and abuse.
Be available in an emergency, as agreed with the National Society, and according to their abilities and skills.
Respond to the need of beneficiaries, Society and strengthen their capacity for self help and active volunteering.
Provide service within a time frame of 4 - 6 hours per week.
Be prepared to undertake appropriate training or personal development to be better able to execute their agreed tasks
Abide by Nigerian Red Cross Society code of conduct.
CHAPTER TWO
2.2. Categories of Volunteer
2.2.1. Service Volunteers: - These are involved in the general implementation of the activities and programme of the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
2.2. 2 Leadership Volunteers: - These are involved in policy making and monitoring of implementation process of the National Societys activities at various levels, among them is the Governing Board of the NRCS.
2.3 Volunteer Management Guidelines: - Volunteer management within the Nigerian Red Cross Society shall be directed by the following basic Guidelines:
Promote volunteering as a significant and positive contribution to mobilizing the power of humanity in improving the lives of the most vulnerable people in the community and to strengthening communities and civil society.
Support volunteers work in all spheres of National Society.
Value all volunteers primarily for their individual contributions, enthusiasm and commitment, as well as for the experience and skills they bring to the National Society.
Identify and support research project that will help to strengthen the activities of the National Society which promote volunteering.
Seek to promote cooperation and partnership with organizations in public and private sector that promote volunteering.
Promote volunteering with the framework of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent with Partner or other National Societies of Red Cross.
Give priority to volunteers whenever job vacancies are available if they have the necessary qualification/ requirements.
2.4 Why the NRCS Needs Volunteers: - Nigeria Red Cross Society needs volunteers to;
assist the national Society in carrying its humanitarian activities in serving the most vulnerable people.
increase membership base in order to meet the humanitarian challenges in the country.
build the capacity of the National society in terms of human resources base.
build the image and reputation of the National society.
2.5 Recruitment and Selection of Volunteers: - Recruitment of volunteers is open to everybody and carried out through different means such as:-
Using a network of friends of the NS, community leaders, informal head hunting, and community meetings and during programme based mobilization.
Using already existing structures for instance, youth structures, through councilors or well known persons within the community and village committees.
Assessing the suitability of potential volunteers through a process of selection.
The process should be kept as simple and informal as possible. It should help the potential volunteer to judge whether he/she will be happy working voluntarily for Nigerian Red Cross Society.
A declaration form in which the volunteer declares to abide by the NRCS volunteer Policy and Management Guidelines should be filled.
Welcoming packs should be given to the volunteers as part of placement and induction training.
This may include:-
A file with documents explaining the aims of NRCS, for instance work done by NRCS
Volunteer policy and NRCS Statute.
A dissemination session about the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Introductory session explaining about the organizational structures of NRCS.
Introduction of all key people involved.
Details of the activities the volunteers will participate in.
Amount of time and days of volunteers involvement.
Loss of membership status as stipulated in NSs statute.
Selection of volunteers
Selection of volunteers will be carried based on the activities and skills desired and as per volunteers categories.
The profile (Bio-data) of volunteers will be used to select the needed volunteers as per their skills.
2.6 Training (Orientation, Training-Basic Training, Task Specific Training)
All volunteers should receive the appropriate training that will enable them to perform the specific task or role they are enlisted to carry out. This training is divided into a) Basic training which all volunteers should receive, and b) Task specific training directly related to the specific task selected volunteer are asked to carry out
What Nigerian Red Cross Society volunteers MUST know.
The History of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The components of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The Nigerian Red Cross Society History, Mission, vision, structures and activities.
The fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and the concept of humanitarian value.
The Emblem and its protective and indicative use,
The code of conduct of the Nigerian Red Cross Society
The duties and responsibilities of Nigerian Red Cross Society
What Nigerian Red Cross Society volunteers MUST not do
Commit resources of NRCS without prior mandate.
Misuse his/her Red Cross and Red Crescent position for personal advantage.
Take advantage of his/her Red Cross and Red Crescent status to perform private transactions or sales from which a profit can be derived for himself/herself or for a third party.
Never discriminate against any individual person or group irrespective of gender, age, ethnic background, religion, sexual orientation or disability.
