Code of Good Practice for Volunteer Sending Organisations

Basic information

Host or sponsor: Umbrella organisation
Type: Code of Conduct/Ethics
Year established: 2005
Status: Active
Thematic area: Development
Summary: The Comhlámh Code of Good Practice for Volunteer Sending Organisations is a set of standards aimed at ensuring that overseas volunteering has a positive impact for the volunteer, the sending organisation and the host project and community. The code was developed as a collaborative peer activity. It sets out 11 different principles that incorporate all aspects of volunteer programmes. Organsiations that become signatories to the Code support its values and principles and agree to work to implement the principles, if they are not already in place. There is a corresponding code which deals with the role of the volunteers being sent by organisations. However, this code is not included in the CSO self-regulatory initiatives database since it applies to individuals rather than organisations.

Principles or standards: Standards-based
Communications / advocacy / fundraising:
- General commitment to transparency
- Ethical communications
Human resources:
- Staff development and training
- Staff relations
- Volunteer relations
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- General commitment to evaluation
- Commitment to integrate learning in future
Cross-cutting thematic areas:
- CSO collaboration and partnership

Monitoring mechanism: Commitment only
Description of monitoring mechanism: The code is put into practice through a collaborative process based on shared learning and support. Organisations that have signed up to the Code are encouraged to work together and share information that can collectively raise standards across the volunteering sector. Signatory organisations are required to submit an annual self-audit of their implementation of the principles in the Code. They can also opt to participate in an external audit of their Code implementation - this does not currently lead to a quality mark, but is based on continuous programme improvement.
Has sanctioning mechanism: Yes
Description of sanctioning mechanism: Signatory organsiations that do not submit an annual self-audit are taken off the list of signatories
Can removal be enforced?: Yes