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BackgroundThe demand for international volunteer experiences to promote global health and nutrition is increasing and numerous studies have documented the experiences of the international volunteers who travel abroad; however, little is known about effective practices from the perspective of partner organizations. This study aims to understand how variables such as the skill-level of volunteers, the duration of service, cultural and language training, and other key variables affect partner organizations’ perceptions of volunteer effectiveness at promoting healthcare and nutrition.MethodThis study used a cross-sectional design to survey a convenience sample of 288 volunteer partner organizations located in 68 countries. Principle components analyses and manual coding of cases resulted in a categorization of five generalized types of international volunteering. Differences among these types were compared by the duration of service, skill-level of volunteers, and the volunteers’ perceived fit with organizational needs. In addition, a multivariate ordinary least square regression tested associations between nine different characteristics/activities and the volunteers’ perceived effectiveness at promoting healthcare and nutrition.ResultsPartner organizations viewed highly-skilled volunteers serving for a short-term abroad as the most effective at promoting healthcare and nutrition in their organizations, followed by slightly less-skilled long-term volunteers. The greatest amount of variance in perceived effectiveness was volunteers’ ability to speak the local language, followed by their skill level and the duration of service abroad. In addition, volunteer training in community development principles and practices was significantly related to perceived effectiveness.ConclusionThe perceptions of effective healthcare promotion identified by partner organizations suggest that program and volunteer characteristics need to be carefully considered when deciding on methods of volunteer preparation and engagement. By better integrating evidence-based practices into their program models, international volunteer cooperation organizations can greatly strengthen their efforts to promote more effective and valuable healthcare and nutrition interventions in partner communities.

Gender inequality within non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is constructed on a daily basis through the gendered norms, attitudes and practices of individuals within them. The continual re-invention of a gendered organization ensures the maintenance of the status quo and therefore the privileging of male/masculine interests over female/feminine interests. Gender mainstreaming is an approach designed to alter the status quo and facilitate women's empowerment. In Malawi, many NGOs have adopted gender mainstreaming as a strategy to address gender inequality both within their organizations and with the communities where they work. Gender mainstreaming initiatives involve a variety of activities including hiring more women staff members, designing policies within the organization to promote gender equality and educating staff members about gender issues through training workshops. While these strategies represent important steps forward for gender equality, it is not clear to what extent these policies and initiatives are translating into meaningful change within the organization.Keywords: gender mainstreaming, NGOs, gender and development organizations, empowerment, gender policies his article is an effort to document some of the challenges of translating gender mainstreaming policies into practice by examining attitudes towards hiring women and the capacity of staff to address gender issues in their work. In particular, this study uncovers some of the attitudes towards gender equality and behaviour towards female staff members. The analysis T

Volunteers who travel abroad on short-term (three-to six-month) assignments represent a growing trend in international development work. Many of the short-term volunteers abroad employ funds earmarked for poverty alleviation and development. This article examines the perceived impacts of international volunteering in the developing world of 50 Canadian youth. The findings demonstrate an awareness of modest and, at times, negative effects in international development. The primary focus in the youth reflections was on personal growth as a positive impact; thus raising questions about the goals and desired outcomes for international development funding for volunteer abroad programmes.Le volontariat dans les pays en développement : les impacts perçus des jeunes canadiens Les volontaires qui se rendent à l'étranger dans le cadre de missions courtes (de trois à six mois) représentent une tendance croissante du travail de développement international. Nombre de ces volontaires à court terme emploient des fonds assignés à l'atténuation de la pauvreté et au développement. Cet article examine les impacts perçus du volontariat à l'échelle internationale dans des pays en développement pour 50 jeunes canadiens. Les conclusions indiquent l'existence d'effets modestes et, parfois négatifs, dans le développement international. L'axe central des réflexions des jeunes portait sur la croissance personnelle comme impact positif, ce qui soulève des questions sur les objectifs et les résultats souhaités pour ce qui est du financement des programmes de volontaires à l'étranger à partir du dével-oppement international.Realizando trabalho voluntário no mundo em desenvolvimento: os impactos percebidos da juventude canadense Tem havido uma tendência crescente de voluntários que viajam para o exterior em missões de curto prazo (três a seis meses) no trabalho de desenvolvimento internacional. Muitos dos voluntários que atuam no curto prazo no exterior empregam a dotação de fundos para redução da pobreza e desenvolvimento. Este artigo examina os impactos percebidos do trabalho voluntário internacional no mundo em desenvolvimento de 50 jovens canadenses. Os resultados mostram uma conscientização de efeitos modestos e, às vezes, negativos no desenvolvimento internacional. O principal enfoque nas reflexões dos jovens foi sobre o crescimento pessoal como um impacto positivo; levantando, então, questões sobre os objetivos e resultados desejados para o financiamento de desenvolvimento internacional para programas de voluntários no exterior. 44Ser voluntario en países en desarrollo: percepciones de jóvenes canadienses Es cada vez más común que los voluntarios que trabajan para el desarrollo permanezcan en el extranjero durante estancias breves (de tres a seis meses). Muchos voluntarios internacionales de corto plazo utilizan fondos asignados a la reducción de la pobreza o al desarrollo. Este ensayo analiza las percepciones de 50 jóvenes canadienses tras su voluntariado en países en desarrollo. Los resultados indican un efecto modesto y a veces negati...