Staff Reporter
Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in collaboration with World Food Programme has launched the ‘Volunteer Management System’. The system will enable the PRCS to better manage its volunteer workforce during emergencies and ensure a rapid coordinated response. The launching ceremony was held at the PRCS National Headquarters, Islamabad attended by government representatives, international NGOs (INGOs), staff of WFP, IFRC, PRCS and volunteers. Speaking on the occasion, Secretary General PRCS Khalid Bin Majeed appreciated the WFP’s support in developing software and training the PRCS staff for its efficient use. “The PRCS is moving towards digitalization to optimize its emergency and relief capacities, and development of VMS is one such initiative,” he added.
Country Director WFP Pakistan Finbarr Curran said the VMS software will enable PRCS to organize and mobilize the volunteer workforce efficiently and effectively during any emergency or disaster in the country thus strengthening its organizational capacity to deliver a better response in times of need. The database of VMS will manage volunteer profiles, enabling the PCRS to maintain an overview of volunteers’ skillsets and whereabouts. The software also offers online learning and knowledge management opportunities to volunteers to enhance their skills in areas of emergency response and preparedness.
It is pertinent to mention that the WFP has extended the assistance under its global agreement for strengthening cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). In order to operationalize this global initiative in Pakistan, the two parties have identified four main areas for collaboration: cash-based transfers, Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM), school safety, emergency preparedness and response, supply chain, logistics and warehouse management and under this initiative, PRCS signed an MoU with the WFP for National Society Development (NSD) covering the above-mentioned thematic areas of intervention.
