Although VEGA is a relatively new organization, its strength lies in the unique and proven ability of its members to mobilize volunteers to support the goals and objectives of USAID and the Economic Growth Agriculture and Trade (EGAT) office, in particular. VEGA was designed in conjunction with AID to eventually become the Missions’ primary mechanism to secure volunteer based technical expertise. By joining VEGA, your benefits will include:

1. New Business: Through VEGA’s leader with associates award, all member organizations may bid to participate on every proposal submitted to the Alliance.
2. Expanded Capacity: The ability to pool your resources and specialized economic development expertise with other member organizations.
3. Increased Outreach: VEGA will promote the expertise of each member organization through Mission trips, outreach materials, a website and special events.
4. Best Practices: The ability to exchange best practices with other members as VEGA engineers new economic development models for future programs.
5. Participation: Not only will each member have representation on the Board of Directors but may also participate on special subcommittees that guide the development of VEGA and the governments’ use and interaction with volunteer organizations.

Qualifications

VEGA is designed to be open to all economic growth volunteer organizations that meet the criteria that USAID has set. VEGA will remain open to membership of any qualifying organization through a simple letter of invitation, with membership becoming effective upon that organization’s acceptance.

All present and future VEGA members will meet USAID requirements as economic growth volunteer organizations (EGVO) and will utilize economic growth volunteers (EGVs). An U.S. EGVO is defined as having the following characteristics:

1. U.S. based and registered organization;
2. An ability to mobilize and place volunteers in countries outside of the United States for the express purpose of furthering economic development;
3. An ability to recruit broadly “persons willing and able to provide pro bono, technical expertise that supports economic growth, agriculture, and trade objectives”;
4. An ability to provide logistical support that enables volunteers to perform effectively and return to the U.S. safely and in good health;
5. An ability to match volunteers with appropriate economic growth volunteer assignments in developing and transitional countries (verified by volunteer self-evaluations, recipients of volunteer services, as well as external evaluations);
6. An ability to support volunteers’ efforts to communicate to their home communities the purposes and achievements of their assignments.