Volunteerism and Capacity Development: Insights from Case Studies of JOCV

Since the 2000s, there has been a growing recognition of the centrality of “capacity development” (CD) CD in international development cooperation. United Nations Volunteers (UNV)United Nations Volunteers (UNV) identified characteristics associated with volunteerismVolunteerism which can reinforce CD and concluded that volunteerismVolunteerism has particular strengthsStrength in supporting the CD process. This chapter provides a deeper understanding of international volunteers’ contribution to CD in host countries using case studies of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) activities. The case studies coverNERICA New Rice for Africa (NERICA) dissemination, the One Village One ProductOne Village One Product (OVOP) initiative, hospital service improvement, and mathematics education. Additionally, the chapter’s appendix essay analyzes the provision of water to a communityCommunity. The chapter provides an analytical perspective and proposes a methodology for analyzing volunteers’ strengthsStrength to support CD. It articulates the view that JOCVs contribute to the CDCapacity Development (CD) of people by using their characteristics associated with volunteerismVolunteerism such as “the direct contact with communitiesCommunity through living and working at the grassroots” and “the reciprocity of exchanging skills and experiences.” Volunteers exploit these characteristics as strengthsStrength for interacting with stakeholders, playing the role of the facilitator of collaboration, and catalyzing their CD and the scaling up of CD.