Interested in viewing profiles of previous ABV Volunteers? Click here to find out more. 

ABV works with private sector organisations, government agencies, local NGOs and other civil society organisations such as charities or community groups.

Although ABV works with all these clients, it has a particular focus on the private sector because we see is as the “engine for economic development” in developing countries. Most of our clients are micro, small or medium-sized businesses that are experiencing problems and require assistance at some point in the “business cycle”.

ABV is “client-driven” in that we believe it is important that our Volunteer assignments are driven by real need as identified by the client – we do not impose our services on clients.

All ABV assignments are based on skills exchange and building the capacity of the local organisation and their staff. ABV Volunteers are not employees; nor are they “cheap consultants” or temporary staff members; they will not do the work for clients – rather clients and Volunteers work in partnership, making joint decisions at all stages of an assignment. An important goal for an ABV Volunteer is to share their work skills with clients through training, advising and mentoring. When a Volunteer is on assignment we expect an appropriate counterpart(s) from the client organisation to be present at the workplace and involved in what the Volunteer is doing.

We expect all clients under the Volunteer Program to contribute in some way toward the in-country costs of hosting a Volunteer, e.g. the volunteer’s living allowance or accommodation. Where possible, this may also include a contribution to the cost of the Volunteer’s airfare. If a client cannot afford to make any contribution towards the costs of an assignment ABV may fully subsidise the assignment. Talk to your local In-Country Manager (ICM).

Here are a few case studies of the many assignments ABV has undertaken in the Volunteer Program over the years.

Past Clients of ABV have included: