Global Diaspora Strategies Toolkit
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Diaspora Toolkit Folder_Diaspora Toolkit Folder 14/04/2011 18:01 Page 2 Additional Tools Global Diaspora Strategies Toolkit G l o Kingsley Aikins Sponsored by Diaspora Diaspora ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————— b matters Nicola White matters a l D the global Irish i making a difference a together s p o r a S t Global Diaspora r a t e g Strategies Toolkit i e s T o o Harnessing l k the power i t of global Valuable support was received from N K diasporas i i n c g ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————— o l s a l e W Mike and Lou Ann Corboy, Dallas Ken Gorman, New York y h A i i t k Joseph Corcoran, Boston Michael and Pepper Jackson, San Francisco e i n Kevin M. Curley, Dallas Deirdre and Thomas Lynch, Dublin s Patty Disney, Los Angeles Charles P. Reagan, Connecticut Stan Gold, Los Angeles John and Helen Sharkey, New York ‘Around the world, even as we pursue a Luanne Tierney, Dallas new era of engagement with other nations, D m we’re embracing a broader engagement – a i a t new partnerships between societies and t s e p citizens, community organizations, r o s business, faith based groups.’ Diaspora Diaspora Matters, Gateway House, E info.diasporamatters.com r a matters 133 Capel Street, Dublin 1, Ireland W www.diasporamatters.com President Barack Obama Project1 29/04/2011 12:43 Page 1 Diaspora matters ‘Around the world, even as we pursue a new era of engagement with other nations, we’re embracing a broader engagement – new partnerships between societies and citizens, community organizations, business, faith based groups.’ President Barack Obama Diaspora Toolkit Dividers_Philanthropy Toolkit Dividers 29/04/2011 11:42 Page 1 Diaspora matters Global Diaspora Strategies Toolkit Diaspora Toolkit Dividers_Philanthropy Toolkit Dividers 29/04/2011 11:42 Page 2 Contents Foreword i Introduction iii Acknowledgements vii The Authors xi First published 2011 Design by Identikit Design Consultants, Dublin Printed by Impress Printing Works, Dublin Diaspora Matters Gateway House, 133 Capel Street, All rights reserved. No part of this publication Dublin 1, Ireland may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or www.diasporamatters.com by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopying, scanning, recording or in any © 2011 Kingsley Aikins other form of storage or retrieval system without and Nicola White the prior written permission of the publishers. Diaspora Toolkit Interior - Section 0_Diaspora Toolkit Interior - Section 0 05/04/2011 15:20 Page i Foreword Ironically, with more and more people living decades and across 12 countries, we have and working further and further from their raised over $350 million for projects place of birth the world is growing smaller supporting peace and reconciliation, arts and the sense of need for connecting and and culture, education and community attaching to their native homelands increases. development. However we have realized, These bonds of ethnicity represent great almost by default, that we are not just a platforms for increasing the influence of fundraising body. We are a movement countries abroad and for developing support whose members are committed to improving from their successful expatriates. The potential Ireland and its communities through philan- for these flows of influence, information and thropy, access and advocacy. income are staggering. With 215 million Of course, we are far from alone and people living away from their home country, have learned a great deal from others. they represent very significant concentrations Indeed the purpose of this Toolkit is to of resources and advocacy. collate, analyze and learn from the This has been the experience of The experience of diaspora organizations Worldwide Ireland Funds. Over three around the world. We hope that this Foreword i Diaspora Toolkit Interior - Section 0_Diaspora Toolkit Interior - Section 0 05/04/2011 15:20 Page ii Toolkit will help inform and promote who contributed and shaped this Toolkit discussion on a fascinating topic which will and helped us learn through their insights shape politics and policies across the world and experiences. in remarkable ways. The mobilization of diasporic We salute the United States Secretary communities can be an immense force of State, Hillary Clinton, for the focus for good in terms of delivering material and attention she is giving to this topic and moral support to their homes and and for organizing the most extensive increasing mutual understanding. We hope Forum on Global Diaspora Strategies in this Toolkit will inform people’s May 2011. We are most grateful to all understanding of that potential. Kieran McLoughlin President and CEO, The Worldwide Ireland Funds ii Global Diaspora Strategies Toolkit Diaspora Toolkit Interior - Section 0_Diaspora Toolkit Interior - Section 0 05/04/2011 15:20 Page iii Introduction Welcome to the Global Diaspora Strategies heritage or interest. From a philanthropic Toolkit which was produced to coincide involvement many other relationships can with the Hillary Clinton Global Diaspora develop in the areas of trade and Forum in Washington. Firstly, congratu- investment, education, culture, sport, lations to the Secretary and the State tourism to name a few. In my career I also Department for bringing focus, interest and worked overseas for the Irish Trade Board attention to an area that continues to have and IDA Ireland and could see how a profound effect on the world and will diaspora relationships can be used to drive only increase in the future. exports and inward investment. I have had the privilege of working for In all of these activities the fundamental one of the world’s premier diaspora key to success is developing networks. In organizations, The Ireland Funds, for diaspora issues networks really do matter. twenty one years until recently. During The US State Department’s Professor that time I could see the power of philan- Anne-Marie Slaughter put it succinctly in thropy and how it can be harnessed to get her essay ‘America’s Edge-Power in the people engaged in their countries of origin, Networked Century’: Introduction iii Diaspora Toolkit Interior - Section 0_Diaspora Toolkit Interior - Section 0 05/04/2011 15:20 Page iv ‘We live in a networked world. War is this Forum will be an excellent opportunity networked ... diplomacy is networked ... for dialogue, debate and discussion. business is networked ... media are There are now over 215 million people networked ... society is networked ... even living in a country other than the one in religion is networked. In this world the which they were born and that is a number measure of power is connectedness. The that has doubled in the last 25 years. It twentieth century world was, at least in represents 3 per cent of the world’s terms of geopolitics, a billiard ball world population. One person in thirty three is an described by the political scientist Arnold international migrant and every year 3 Wolfers as a system of self contained states million people migrate. Annual rates of colliding with one another. The results of immigration to the US have increased from these collisions were determined by just over 320,000 annually in the 1960s to military and economic power ... now the close to a million today. In 2000 the number world is driven by networked clusters of of foreign born legal immigrants residing in the world’s most creative people. In a the US was 31 million, representing 12 per networked world power flows from the cent of the US population. This is projected ability to make the maximum number of to rise to 48 million by 2025 and to 60 valuable connections. The issue is no million by 2050. Now because of technology, longer relative power but centrality in a transport and communications, and, possibly dense global web. Where you are from for the first time in history, geography does means where you can, and do, go back and not dictate identity. People can be both ‘here whom you trust and network with.’ and there’, fully committed to the country The object of this Toolkit is to put they live in but also closely connected to together in one publication and website a their country of origin, heritage or interest. review and audit of what is happening in the This ‘hyphenated’ existence can be mutually world of global diaspora strategies both by very beneficial. More and more national category and country. It is by no means governments are introducing diaspora exhaustive or prescriptive and aims to cover strategies and recognizing the role that key a wide range of initiatives. There is no ‘one members of the diaspora can play in size fits all’. Every country does it differently, developing their home economies without some better than others and some not at all. having to return home permanently. Brain Also, it’s not easy and many initiatives fail. drain can become brain gain and brain The last decade has seen a veritable exchange. Technology and, in particular explosion of activity with individuals, organi- social media, means that connections can be zations, companies and governments trying made on a one to one individual basis and to figure out what action to take and who people who never engaged with diaspora should take it, who should fund it and what organizations can be connected with their model to follow. Often the debate is over the home country and with each other in role of government - should they be facili- powerful and creative and innovative ways. tators or implementers? What is certain is Patterns of migration have changed in that we can learn much from each other and ways that will strengthen the potential for iv Global Diaspora Strategies Toolkit Diaspora Toolkit Interior - Section 0_Diaspora Toolkit Interior - Section 0 05/04/2011 15:20 Page v enhanced diaspora engagement.