16th January 2025
The journey begins, a new year for us all. A new CEO for Shabaka and, hopefully, a feeling of renewal, optimism, and a desire to make this year one of progress and positive impact. Yet, we enter a new year carrying some of the same challenges we have been facing, for years in some cases, decades in others.
We often speak of the need for a new approach to humanitarian crisis response because the current structure is not working as efficiently, fairly, or as sustainably as we would wish.
One of Shabaka’s core areas of focus is helping to highlight, support, and enhance an important aspect of humanitarian response often overlooked or underappreciated, the contributions of diaspora and local responders. I am continuously inspired by the work, support and commitment displayed by diaspora communities and the local responders they so often work with. Utilising their resources and leveraging their position, location, and more, we see tremendous impact taking place.
At the end of 2024, we saw the work of local responders in Sudan such as Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) being recognised for the essential services and advocacy in international media. Shabaka has been a vocal advocate, highlighting the work of local responders and the dangers they are often placed in to do the essential work that other humanitarian actors are challenged to provide.
Diaspora are so much more than a wallet yet, the funds they are able to deploy in environments that traditional humanitarian responders struggle to access, is essential. Our recent work on Cash Transfers to Sudan highlights how intimate knowledge of an environment and community makes so much difference in supporting those who need it the most.
We are very proud of the members of the Diaspora Humanitarian Exchange Group (DHEG) supported by Shabaka. Their experience of crisis response – in countries of origin and heritage and in settlement countries like the UK -, their knowledge and advocacy help to garner support and keep essential information at the forefront of decision makers. DHEG members encompasses a range of diaspora communities who learn from, inspire and support each other.
For example, Syrian DHEG members have done so much for extended periods to support the response both in and outside Syria from 2011 to today. Following the fall of the government of Bashar Al-Assad in December 2024, the Syrian diaspora looking at the role they will continue to play as this new phase for Syria develops and raises further needs for Syria’s people internally and externally.
Similarly, we find it inspiring to see diaspora partners from Haiti, the Horn of Africa, Turkiye, and other countries who have undergone similar experiences and faced similar challenges sharing their insights and guidance. Thus, the DHEG is an important platform and will be a space that we will continue to develop and grow to build capacity and partnerships for all stakeholders.
SDG 17 speaks of the need for partnership as it recognises the levels of need, response and resources are beyond any singular individual or group. A collective response enables a broad base approach that will increase chances of truly not leaving anyone behind. Shabaka commits to continue forging new and nascent partnerships for positive impact in the spaces that need it the most!
Partnership is the word for 2025. To call upon a well known but very relevant African proverb, ‘If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together’. Shabaka invites you to join us as this journey of ensuring no person is left behind truly does take a village!
