The Contribution of Community Based Volunteer Workforce Towards the Millenium Development Goals in Nyando District, Kenya

Africa is behind in all Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) indicators and are unlikely to achieve them by 2015. This calls for innovations to accelerate progress. Community Based Volunteerism (CBV) is one such innovation. Volunteers are people who work on behalf of others without pay or tangible gain, (Decker 2003). Volunteerism exists in all cultures and religions. It enhances solidarity and reciprocity among people. It is valued as a means of responding to human resource needs, most urgent in Africa because of limited resources (Smith, 1998b). This paper presents results of a study on the contribution of CBVs to efforts towards the MDGs in Nyakach District, Western Kenya. The study was cross sectional, descriptive and exploratory in design. The objective was to describe the contribution of volunteers in services relevant to the achievement of the MDGs in the study area, using quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Results: 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. Thus 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%) in study area had served for more than five years, indicating a reasonable retention rate. Conclusion: The study concluded that volunteers make substantial contribution to efforts, and budget towards the MDG relevant services, and are vital if MDGs are to be achieved. Due to the budgetary strains and human resource crisis, volunteerism presents an alternative of providing services. It should become a way of life for every citizen, as it is the only way most governments could progress towards the MDGs.