SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS KRIS BALDERSTON
12:00 p.m. Special Representative Balderston participates in a roundtable discussion hosted by the International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA), in Stanford, California.
Just what is the International diaspora Engagement Alliance?
http://diasporaalliance.org/
The United States has the largest number of international migrants of any country in the world. Virtually all Americans have immigrant roots; natural ambassadors by their identities, the diplomatic and developmental potential of U.S. diasporas remains largely untapped. To unleash this potential, the Secretary of State’s Office of the Global Partnership Initiative (GPI), in collaboration with the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), launched the International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA) at the first ever Secretary’s Global Diaspora Forum over three days (May 17-19, 2011) in Washington, D.C. IdEA is an innovative platform for public-private partnerships designed to engage diaspora communities, the private sector, and public institutions in a collaborative process. The goal is to support the development of diaspora-centered partnerships that promote trade and investment, volunteerism, philanthropy, diplomacy, entrepreneurship, and innovation in countries of origin.
IdEA’S Five Pillars
IdEA will promote the following five core modes of diaspora engagement around the world:
1. diaspreneuership: Support diaspora entrepreneurs in investing and building enterprises as well as stimulating trade in countries of origin.
+ Read: Mobilizing Diaspora Entrepreneurship for Development
This report, done by the Migration Policy Institute under a USAID grant, examines how diasporas are in a unique position to have a positive effect on the economy of their countries of origin - the key is for those countries to seize the opportunities. This report documents how diaspora entrepreneurs often are motivated to contribute to job creation and economic growth in their native lands. But, many developing countries have met only limited success in attracting diaspora investors and entrepreneurs. Download Report
2. diasplomacy: Strengthen the natural role of diasporas in diplomacy, advocacy, and peace building via nontraditional media such as sports, arts, and culture.
+ Read: Voice After Exit: Diaspora Advocacy
This report, undertaken by the Migration Policy Institute through a USAID grant, discusses how today’s diaspora organizations, communities and individuals increasingly are seeking to influence government, media, private sectors and other prominent groups in their countries of origin and of settlement. This report provides an overview of diaspora advocacy by looking at five issues: who participates in diaspora advocacy, who or what are the “targets” in these efforts, what means are used to advance these causes, what are the issues on which they focus and the effectiveness of the efforts.
Download Report
3. Diasporacorps: Encourage the proliferation of platforms that facilitate diaspora volunteerism in countries of origin.
+ Read: Connected through Service: Diaspora Volunteers and Global Development
This report, researched by the Migration Policy Institute through a USAID grant, examines how nearly 200,000 first- and second-generation immigrants are among the 1 million US residents who spend time volunteering abroad each year. Diasporas often have the connections, knowledge and personal drive to volunteer outside the framework of organized volunteer programs. But many also volunteer through established programs. As skilled migration and the number of U.S. youth with ancestors in the developing world grow over the coming years, the potential for both skilled diaspora volunteers and youth diaspora volunteers will increase, as this report discusses.
4. Diaspora 2.0: Foster innovative communication and information technologies such as mobile banking and diaspora social networks to enhance and deepen engagement.
5. diasphilanthropy: Cultivate diaspora giving in areas of education, health, nutrition, and disaster relief in countries of origin.
(The sentences above with + signs in front of them are links for reading more. Go to the website if you want to read them.)
What I thought was interesting was the fact that these things were described as the "Five Pillars". The only time I've ever heard an organizations principles called "Pillars" is with the "Five Pillars of Islam." (Of course, I don't read a lot about organizations...maybe others have used that term as well...)
Whatever happened to the melting pot, I wonder? Sure, be proud of the culture you left to come to the US for a better life, but accept that better life by integrating into American society.
No comments:
Post a Comment