VOLUNTEER SELECTION & TRAINING

Jointly with community leaders, select volunteers that are trusted and well-connected within the community and are culturally appropriate and inclusive, particularly with regard to gender. Volunteer recruitment may take place at the initial community meetings. 

Select volunteers based on:

• Knowledge of the area,

• Affiliation with certain communities and population groups,

• Residence within the assigned community,

• Age and gender suited to the community culture and norms,

• Fluency in the language spoken in the community, and

• Those who who are trusted by and invested in the community.

Consider if the national government has guidelines on the selection of community-based volunteers.

Consider if volunteers can be recruited from previous healthcare campaigns or if there are community members who already serve as volunteers within the target communities.

Training, including forms and protocols, needs to be adapted to low-literacy users and should include photos or visuals. Train community volunteers using simple educational materials focused on case definition, recording and reporting policies, stool collection and handling procedures, and roles and responsibilities.

Training offers a rare opportunity to assemble all the community volunteers before surveillance is launched. Gather necessary information from volunteers (such as mobile phone numbers) and put measures in place to track volunteers’ activities during the program.

For suggestions on what to cover in training and how to coordinate the logistics of training, see the training manual by CORE Group Polio Project called "Community-based Surveillance Training Manual for Targeted Diseases and Signals" in the resources section below.

COMPENSATION
Depending on how volunteers are rewarded, CBS can be costly. Its sustainability must be addressed at the beginning of the project every effort should be made to compensate volunteers fairly and on time. Consider mobile money payments to ensure transparency and allow volunteers to receive funds directly, rather than relying on an intermediary like a supervisor to distribute funds.

ACCOUNTABILITY
CBS requires a system for tracking volunteer activities. It is essential to stay in contact with volunteers and encourage them as the program progresses. Community volunteers must have a way to communicate with their focal point (for example, telephone, petty cash, or other means). Consider providing a diary or logbook to volunteers to document their activities and help facilitate communication.

EQUITY
Intentionally recruit women as volunteers. In some contexts, it is more socially acceptable for women volunteers to work with mothers. So, gender must play a key role in the recruitment of volunteers. Additionally, ensure the quantity and quality of supervision is equitable, and that both women and men have sufficient opportunities for training and mentorship.

Consider if there are any barriers related to the interactions between supervisor and volunteer, particularly if they are different genders, that may make it difficult for volunteers to raise concerns or report problems and take time to address those barriers. Ensure that policies and training on the prevention of harassment, sexual exploitation, abuse, and other forms of gender-based violence are in place, actively communicated, and implemented. There should be zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure that a mechanism for confidential reporting as well as policies for safeguarding community volunteers is in place.

Lastly, the barriers faced by volunteers and the social norms in a community may be different for women and men. It is important for your program to have women-friendly services that take these barriers and norms into account, so that all volunteers can perform at their best.