VSO therefore conducted a review of the volunteer programme in 1999 and consulted with government and local partners over current and future needs. The review recommended that the volunteer programme should continue in the NGO and social sectors until 2002. No new volunteers will be recruited for Latvia. Due to financial constraints and a lack of trained staff, municipal authorities increasingly delegate social service provision to local NGOs and community organisations. VSO works with local municipalities and the community organisations to provide services which meet the needs of people with disabilities and women and children.
Volunteers help to strengthen the capacity of the organisations and improve service delivery.
Volunteers also work with community and state organisations providing income-generation training for unemployed people, particularly women. For example, one volunteer currently works with the Latvian State Employment Service, which collaborates with local NGOs who offer vocational and educational training to unemployed people, many of who are women. To achieve sustainability in service provision, it is also essential that appropriate structures are in place. Given the fragility of social NGOs and limited volunteer resources, VSO therefore also works with regional NGO centres and umbrella organisations to build capacity and develop collaborative networks. Current placements include one volunteer working as a regional development advisor, developing social service provision, particularly for the disabled and collaborating with NGOs and another volunteer working with an enterprise support centre.