Technology should make volunteering easier—for volunteers and for the people who support them. This page curates tools that remove friction from the journey: VDMS to register and track people and training, simple communication tools to keep everyone informed, and reporting functions that surface what needs attention. The emphasis is on what’s already working in our network and can be adopted in phases: start with registration and training, then layer communications, scheduling, certificates, and reporting. Every step should reduce admin, improve safety, and make volunteers feel more connected and recognised.
Harnessing Technology for Humanitarian Efforts
- Volunteer Data Management System (VDMS)—registration, training/activity tracking, certificates, insurance, mass comms (email/SMS/WhatsApp), and exports. Co-developed and used by Spanish, French and Kenya RC.
- Comms & safety—pair mass comms with clear safety messages and duty-of-care guidance (e.g., personal protective equipment, check-ins, incident reporting). Epidemic Control Toolkit
- Adopt in phases—tie each phase to a success measure (e.g., “100% of new volunteers onboarded through the system with consent captured”). IFRC Annual Report 2024 Executive Summary
Choose tools you can sustain, not just install. Protect data with clear permissions and train coordinators in everyday use: how to send a targeted message, pull a roster, or check certificate expiry. Share screenshots of what works in your context—practical examples help peers adopt faster. Above all, keep decisions and relationships human; tools should support, not replace, conversations.