Exciting New Partnerships: The Future of Diaspora Organisations involvement in International Development

Here at Basti Ram we have some exciting developments happening with our network organisation the Diaspora Volunteering Alliance (DVA) and their new partnership with Bond for International Development.

Here is a little intro into the two organisations (if you don’t already know): 

The DVA help by bringing together UK organisations with a common interest in engaging and sending Diaspora volunteers to support projects in their countries and continents of origin.

Bond is the UK membership body for organisations working in international development or supporting those that do through funding, research, training and other services. 

http://www.bond.org.uk/annual-conference

This all started with myself (Rachel Stovold) attending BOND’s annual conference "The Shock of the New: Bringing Innovation Back to Development". This conference is the largest of its kind in Europe with some of the best speakers in the international development sector. Sessions I attended were

1. Where is the public heart and mind on international development?
2. New collaborations: engaging diaspora communities 
3. Six new ideas to transform your approach to funding

So why is this partnership important?

Firstly, on an international level diaspora organisations can provide:

1. Connections: to local grassroots international development work. 
2. Diversity and Inclusivity: talking to a range of people and specifically those with a local knowledge of that country and area rather than a focus on just large international aid agencies.
3. Sustainability: by gaining information on local needs from local people this leads to local ownership and in the long term sustainability. 
4. International aid agencies can also learn from diaspora organisation in relation to doing things on a budget. Many diaspora organisations are commonly small organisations who have a big impact but on a small budget.

Secondly, diaspora organisations don't just work in their home country but also with diaspora communities in the UK.

This partnership is important because the positive contribution of UK diaspora communities in tackling poverty and inequality often receives very little acknowledgement, with diaspora-led organisations tending to sit on the margins of the development sector. Recently established NGOs are beginning to understand how stronger, strategic links with diaspora-led NGOs and communities could be of real benefit to both parties, but often neither party has the confidence or knowledge to take it further.

So what might we expect from this?

So Basti Ram will receive a 1 year free membership with BOND that will provide us with:

• Improving the capacity of a small organisation like ourselves. 
• Links to larger aid agencies and support around working in partnership with them. 
• Involvement on global campaigns and a working group will be set up for diaspora organisations around Post-2015. 
• Provide research around diaspora involvement in development.
• A chance for a national organisation to show public support and value the diaspora communities’ role in international development.

From this you can see why we are excited! We will keep you posted about future updates and look out for our future campaign around Female Infanticide in India.

If you would like to know anymore information please do not hesitate to email me at rachel.bastiram@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading

Rachel, Fundraising Officer/ Project Leader =)
 

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