ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 Content Diaspora Action Australia
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ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 Content Diaspora Action Australia VISION Diasporas are able to contribute effectively in Australia and abroad to peace, development, humanitarian response and human rights. MISSION Diaspora Action Australia (DAA) works with diasporas in Australia that promote peace, development, humanitarian response and human rights. We do this by supporting diaspora initiatives; providing resources, information and training; facilitating dialogue and shared learning; building networks; amplifying diaspora voices at local, national and international levels. We advocate for the inclusion of diasporas in policy dialogue relating to their countries of origin and communities, and seek to build an environment in which diaspora contributions are recognised and valued. Vision, Mission and Principles 1 Letter from the Chair & Director 2 PRINCIPLES Why Diasporas? 4 The actions of DAA are guided by the following principles, laws and approaches: 10 Years of DAA at a glance 6 Rights based approach Community development Strengthening Diaspora Communities 8 We recognise the human rights of all people and work We recognise the wealth of knowledge and experience Theory of change 10 for the empowerment of people to claim their civil, within communities, respect their independence, and political, economic, social and cultural rights. support their empowerment. DAA works in solidarity DAA Volunteers 12 with diaspora partners, who maintain leadership of their projects for the long-term benefit of whole Building Community Strengths 14 communities. Australian Aid to Africa 18 Gender equality Cultural diversity DAA ‘Aid’ to African diaspora 20 DAA is committed to gender equality and recognises We value cultural diversity and are committed to that gender-based oppression is structural and inter-cultural dialogue based on mutual exchange and What Dispora Do And Where 22 systemic. sharing. Women, Peace and Security 24 Impartiality International human rights standards Diasporas In Action Follow Ups 28 DAA does not take political or partisan positions We promote respect for, and compliance with, relevant Diaspora Voices: Shaping DAA’s work 30 regarding any conflict. We are concerned with the international law and principles: human rights law, human rights of people affected by conflict. international humanitarian law and refugee law. Acknowlegement 32 1 Letter from the Chair & Director It is our great pleasure to present DAAs 10th gain the recognition it deserves. Established and Much of DAAs contributions to policy, advocacy You will find some of those stories in this report, Annual Report, incorporating our 10 Year Review. economically powerful diasporas are proving to and sector development is driven by the highlighting the journeys of communities and be a valued and influential instrument for Federal Diaspora Learning Network. The members of demonstrating their unique approaches to Founded in 2008 through a partnership with government, however, humanitarian diasporas the DLN donate their time and expertise to this diaspora development. We offer our most humble Oxfam, DAA plays a unique role in Australia, face a different set of challenges. Funding work, guiding our continued contributions to thanks to our diaspora community partners. supporting the humanitarian, peace building and opportunities are rare, existing funding models Australia’s foreign affairs policy, the international You continue to inspire us with your tireless, human rights work of diaspora communities from are inappropriate for diaspora development development sector and building an evidence committed and highly impactful work to improve across the globe. DAA was established to provide approaches, avenues of influence are scarce and base for increased recognition and support of the lives of your communities in Australia and focused and independent support to diaspora very little practical support is available. Diasporas diaspora development. In recent years, this work overseas. Thank you for all that you do. It has communities across Australia as they work to routinely seek support from DAA to self-organise, has included shaping the International Diasporas been our greatest privilege to work alongside you improve the lives of their communities overseas. self-advocate, develop coherent strategies, gain In Action Conferences, joint policy submissions, for the past 10 years. access to networks, establish a dialogue with national seminars and increased inclusion of Diasporas play a critical and often unseen role in decision makers, and build an evidence base of diaspora in academic research. A strong focus As we reflect on our past work, and explore the international development. They combine their their impact and reach. of the DLN this year has been developing a current needs of diaspora communities, our future unique knowledge of culture, country and history significant research proposal to the Australian direction has emerged. This will directly inform to develop sustainable strategies that have a In the absence of any government funding since Research Council to better understand and our next Strategic Plan, ensuring we continue to lasting impact for communities. They are working October 2018, following 9 years of minimal and harness the role of diaspora in humanitarian provide the most responsive support for diaspora in crisis zones long before international aid arrives, sporadic funding, DAA has continued to rely on responses. We thank the DLN members for their development. Ably led by the Board of Directors, and remain there long after it ends. the generous contributions of our volunteers to significant ongoing contributions to DAA, our our new Strategic Plan will be launched in March plan and deliver community capacity building communities and the sector more broadly. 2020. We thank the Board for their dedication, Our 10thanniversary provides an ideal opportunity activities. The value of the day to day support persistence and valuable contributions to DAA. to reflect on DAAs work, revisit our diaspora DAA provides to diaspora communities has been It is impossible to reflect on the value of DAA’s They are highly skilled, passionate and tireless partnerships and explore our collective impact. a focus of stakeholder feedback, reinforcing the work without also understanding the impact leaders who continue to guide DAA towards its We deeply appreciate the support we’ve received importance of securing resources to provide of our diaspora community partners. DAA vision. from our stakeholder groups in undertaking the on-demand assistance. Volunteers play a critical plays a very deliberate community enabling 10 year review. Their participation in surveys, role in DAAs work. We are extremely fortunate to role, seeking to support diaspora development consultations, interviews and workshops has attract highly skilled volunteers from a wide range through capability, advocacy and advice. While enabled us to capture the work that has defined of professional backgrounds. on occasion this requires promotion of DAA our history while preparing for our future. to funders, academia and the international Without them, DAA would not be able to respond development sector, our focus has always been We operate in a challenging environment, to the ever increasing requests for community on elevating diaspora communities in their own caught between the well-established settlement support. We thank them for their invaluable right. In many ways, the best demonstration of our and international development sectors. The contributions to all aspects of our work. impact is seen through the many success stories role, value and enormous potential of diaspora of our diaspora community partners. development is yet to be fully understood and D e n i s e G o l d fi n c h Executive Director Andrew Hewett Karen Medica Jamie Han Chu Lisa Vettori Mustafa Najib Hala Abdelnour Deputy Chair Member Treasurer Secretary Member Chairperson Internationally experienced, high Karen works across cultures in Jamie is a finance professional Lisa was a staff member of DAA Mustafa works as community Hala has dedicated her career to profile leader and advocate in the non- many countries across the Asia- with many years of experience in for over three years as Community worker, interpreter/translator, and working with diverse populations and government community sector, Andrew Pacific region. Karen has worked commercial, government and not for Engagement Coordinator, where international aid worker. He has exploring innovative business practice worked at Oxfam Australia for nearly with a number of international profit organisations. Her experience she worked closely with many worked in Australia’s aid programs and effective behaviour change 22 years, including 11 years as Executive not-for-profits and recently ranges across many countries and diaspora community organisations and with refugees, asylum seekers and processes. She is the founder and Director (CEO). He was a member of the served as a former DFAT continents including Australia, the and activists. Joining the board migrants in Australia. Himself a former director of Global Echo Consultants, a World Bank-NGO Committee for four Disaster Risk Management expert United Kingdom, Africa and Asia. In has enabled Lisa to continue her asylum seeker who was rescued by change agency focusing on effective years and of the Executive Committee in the Pacific. Karen’s research 2011 she helped establish her own not commitment to the vision of DAA. the Tampa in 2001 and was detained strategy,