The contributions of community based volunteer workforce towards the millennium development goals in Nyando District, Kenya

Abstract

This paper presents results of a study on the contribution of CBVs to efforts towards the MDGs in Western Kenya. The study was cross sectional, descriptive and exploratory in design.

Objective of the study was to describe the contribution of volunteers in services relevant to the achievement of the MDGs.

Services rendered by volunteers were relevant to MDGs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Majority of volunteers spent 6-10 hours in a week offering voluntary services. This is equivalent to $20 per person per month, for 40 volunteers serving 5,000 people. They contribute USD 9,600 per year, which is 4% budget of $170,000 the population at recommended $34 per capita per year. Majority of volunteers (70%) had served for more than five years, indicating a reasonable retention rate. Due to the budgetary strains and human resource crisis, volunteerism presents an alternative of providing services

Keywords: Volunteers, Contributions, Millennium Development Goals, Community