The Role of Diaspora in Humanitarian Response IOM Migration Series: Briefing III

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1 The Role of Diaspora in Humanitarian Response IOM Migration Series: Briefing III Onyekachi Wambu, Director AFFORD Conference Room 3, UNHQ, New York 3 June 2015

2 Humanitarian Systems Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen OCHA s 2013 Global Humanitarian Forum talked in terms of Humanitarian systems, as opposed to one system The Forum identified the need for better coordination and operability between these different systems AFFORD was established at the height of a humanitarian crisis in Sierra Leone, and witnessed these systems operating on parallel tracks - the diaspora responding one way, conventional actors another, the private sector in yet another Since then there is increasing recognition of the diaspora system and what it brings to the table. However, despite this recognition there is little in the way of structured frameworks for integrating the diaspora or enhancing their effectiveness

3 Diaspora Invisible Web To improve coordination mechanisms between diasporas and the mainstream humanitarian system there is need for better understanding and study of diaspora intervention methods and organisational capacities Overall these interventions are massive. We know from the World Bank that 245 million migrants/diasporas, sent half a trillion dollars in 2014, supporting on average 4.5 people each. Result - over a billion people impacted. Specifically this impact is heightened at times of crisis, with the diaspora often the first to respond. Also such response will carry on regardless Diaspora s invisible web is deployed through 5 forms of capital - Financial remittances, investment, philanthropy - Intellectual knowledge, skills sharing - Political lobbying, - Social access, networks, trust - Cultural ambassadors

4 Diaspora as partners? Though we have a potential army of 245 million, impacting a billion challenges remain Diaspora is diverse and though largely a force for good, also needs to be problematised - around issues of legitimacy, accountability and adherence to humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. The traffic should not be only one way as the diaspora have in turn problematised conventional humanitarian systems most recently diaspora challenging the images and campaigns used in fundraising for the Ebola crisis Increased understanding of diaspora interventions and the proper calibration and mitigation of risks is vital Diaspora have an important role to play on the key issues of innovation, aid effectiveness, serving the needs of local people, and managing the risks of humanitarian crisis. i.e diaspora have long campaigned for cash transfers similar to their remittances Diaspora are too big a resource not to harness

5 Integrating Diasporas Increased policy and funding support for diaspora interventions during: -The pre-crisis period -Crisis period -Post Crisis and development period Increased dialogue and creation of permanent structures to enable and enhance diaspora/conventional humanitarian joint action, including building diaspora capacity and sharing best practice In order to effect the first two it is vital we Increased data and understanding of current diaspora intervention methods and organisational capacity

6 Model Partnerships As our Chair Gibril Faal remarked here 2 years ago when speaking at the HLD on Migration and Development: For partnership to work, common purpose is not enough. Institutions should understand, acknowledge, value and support migrant and diaspora initiatives These already reflect their specific circumstances and characteristics, and their long term strategic objectives. Migrants and diaspora suffer from consultation fatigue. They crave substantive participation, whereby they act and speak for themselves supported by their friends and advocates. They are and should be treated as principals in any engagement; not recipients of enlightened benefaction. Engagement should yield tangible, practical, short term results, incorporating capacity building to further enhance medium and long term participation and action.

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