The Covid-19 outbreak has led to outstanding human, social and financial contributions from diasporas. However, their impact on emergency response is frequently underestimated by governments and relief organisations.
The European Union Global Diaspora Facility (EUDiF) project implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) launched a study project on ‘Diaspora Engagement in Times of Crisis’ in collaboration with Shabaka in August 2020 to conduct research on diaspora humanitarian response across six different country case studies, namely:
- Lebanon (emergency response to the August 2020 explosion in Beirut)
- Sudan (COVID 19 response and recent floods, 2020)
- Zambia (responses to Cyclones Idai and Kenneth in southern Africa, in 2019)
- Nicaragua (political crisis since 2018)
- Nepal (floods in 2017)
- Ukraine (response to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine since 2014)
The objective of these case studies is to analyse practices and provide guidance and lessons learned on how diasporas intervene in times of crisis in their countries of heritage.
Shabaka and ICMPD organised an online proof of concept roundtable for key stakeholders including diaspora humanitarians, humanitarian agencies and INGOs, and academics and other experts on 22 October 2020.
For the full report of the online proof-of-concept roundtable, click here.
