How to build Diaspora Power through Diaspora Diplomacy, Investment & Talent
Diaspora, Philanthropy, and Networking | Co-Founder The Diaspora Institute
With partners, they have worked in approximately 60 countries in the areas of diaspora engagement/policies, organizational planning, investment, networking and philanthropy. He completed a PhD on Diaspora Strategies and Conflict Transformation where he learnt how the areas outlined above helped to contribute to a lasting peace on the island of Ireland.
The politics of aid and international development are changing before our eyes. Policies in these areas face increasing demands to respond to this new reality. The power dynamics to deliver this are fundamentally shifting. Simply being responsive will not be enough to meet these new demands. This is not just an age of reform for these areas; it must be an age of creation. In this light, it is a remarkable opportunity.
This keynote embraces this new reality through the prism of diaspora engagement. As diaspora engagement moves to the policy mainstream, it will reflect on the successes and failures of the past. It will move beyond the classic understanding of viewing diaspora engagement as a development cooperation tool and explore how diaspora engagement represents a new form of networked power that can energise answers to the new demands emerging in aid and international development.
It will contend and frame how diaspora power can now be delivered at scale across critical terrains – diplomacy, investment and talent amongst others – to proactively shape a brighter future for aid and international development. Drawing on experience from The Diaspora Institute’s work in over 50 countries, the keynote will share tips and insights on how to deliver these opportunities. It will showcase how diaspora presents an economic opportunity for the countries of origin, transit and destination.
The keynote promises to pose tough questions and provide actionable answers to inspire politicians, civil society, development practitioners and policymakers on the quality and scale of available answers for the new politics of aid and international development in Germany and beyond through diaspora engagement. It will work to inspire the diaspora to know their own power in this new reality and equip them with practical tools to put those networks of power to work across aid, development, diplomacy, investment and talent.