Since the Diaspora Youth Pitch Competition is funded by the EU, we focus on youth-led diaspora organisations that are based in Europe. If your organisation has a chapter that is registered in the EU27, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, they can join the competition on your behalf. You may also forge a partnership with youth-led diaspora organisations that are already registered in Europe.
Introduction
The Future Forum is the European Union’s flagship conference on diaspora engagement for development. It offers a space for dialogue, learning and celebration for the different actors in the diaspora-development ecosystem.
At the conference, we bring together diaspora organisations, partner countries, EU Member States and institutions, as well as other key players, to share inspiring practices, take stock of progress, and explore pathways for cooperation around the world.
In the first two editions of the Future Forum, we explored themes such as the future of the diaspora-development ecosystem, the role of diaspora in the green transition, youth engagement, and human capital. Over these two editions, 900 participants tuned-in to learn from the practices and insights shared by 150 speakers.
For the first time since its inception, the third edition of the Future Forum will take place in person on 17 and 18 October 2023, in the heart of Brussels, the home of EUDiF’s donor, the European Commission’s Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA). Around 200 participants are expected to attend to explore the broad but vital theme of partnerships.
At the Future Forum, EUDiF strives to…
Spark inclusive and dynamic practice-focused discussions- Inform ongoing and future policies and initiatives
- Offer meaningful networking opportunities
- Showcase the potential of youth diaspora
Focusing on partnerships
As we approach the end of EUDiF’s first phase, it is time to celebrate what the facility is all about: partnership. Partnership is the cornerstone of successful diaspora engagement for development and the backbone of EUDiF’s work – from research, to dialogue, to technical support. Everything EUDiF has done in its first four years has happened in some form of partnership.
At the Future Forum we will dig into some of the most exciting partnerships from our actions, as well as other inspiring practices from around the ecosystem to drive discussions on three key focus areas of partnership:
Success factors
- Diversification
- Maximising value
- In the lead up to the Future Forum, we will also be sharing a “Guide to partnerships” series. Stay tuned!
Agenda highlights
Day 1: 17 October
Day 2: 18 October
9:30 - 10:00
Opening ceremony
10:00 - 10:20
Lightning talks: A dynamic landscape for diaspora partnerships
11:00 - 12:30
Panel: Partnering for success
14:00 - 15:00
Youth pitch competition
15:30 - 16:00
Lightning talks: From emergency to recovery
16:00 - 17:30
Panel: Diversifying partnerships
17:30 - 18:00
Presentation of youth pitch prizes
18:00 - 20:00
Evening social event
9:00 - 9:30
Welcome & registration
9:30 - 11:00
Panel: Maximising the diaspora-development value chain
11:30 - 12:30
Passing the baton to the 14th GFMD
12:30 - 13:00
Closing ceremony
Diaspora Youth Pitch Competition
In every edition of the Future Forum, we strive to provide opportunities for youth diaspora to actively participate – whether as attendees, speakers, moderators, or co-organisers.
This year, we are launching the Diaspora Youth Pitch Competition to highlight the unique and innovative ideas of youth diaspora. True to the win-win nature of partnerships, this competition offers exciting benefits to youth competitors whilst simultaneously offering inspiration to policymakers and practitioners on how to innovate within the diaspora-development ecosystem from a youth perspective.
If you are a youth-led diaspora organisation in Europe with roots in one of EUDiF’s partner regions or countries, we invite you to submit a development-oriented idea on how diaspora youth could leverage partnerships to deliver on SDG 4 (Quality Education) and/or SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Submit your ideas in English or French until 30 June, 23:59 CEST.
We will be hosting a virtual town hall to answer any and all questions on 17 May 2023 at 19:00 CEST. Register here!
Competition FAQ
I am a youth diaspora living in an EU country, but I belong to a diaspora organisation that is registered outside of the EU. Am I still eligible to join?
Can I join the competition as an individual?
We do not accept applications from individual diaspora members. You may consider partnering with an eligible youth-led diaspora organisation registered in Europe to submit your application.
If we decide to partner with organisations that are registered in the EU, what documentation would we need to show to prove the partnership?
We do not require a formal partnership agreement or any similar document. You may set up arrangements internally on how to credit ideas, balance the workload, select the representative, or split the prize money. In the end, the organisation registered in the EU would submit the application, since they are the ones who have formal status within the EU.
Are youth-led diaspora organisations registered in the United States eligible?
No, only those registered in the EU, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are eligible to apply.
My diaspora organisation is still in the process of legally registering itself. Can we still apply?
Depending on how far you are in the registration process and on how long it takes for your registration to get approved, we will consider it. We will need the statute of the organisation and all relevant documents in time before the selection in early July. Ultimately, we will have to be fair to all organisations that apply.
Can I still join the Diaspora Youth Pitch Competition even if I did not pre-register for the Future Forum?
Absolutely! You do not need to be pre-registered for the Future Forum to join the competition. If you have any interest in coming to the Future Forum, you may contact us through EU-diaspora@icmpd.org to be put on the waiting list.
If selected, will my organisation have to cover the costs of attending the Future Forum?
For each of the finalist organisations, EUDiF will sponsor one representative’s transportation, accommodation and meals during the Future Forum in Brussels on 17-18 October 2023.
Advisory committee
In order to make the Future Forum as relevant and meaningful as possible for all members of our community, this year we are working with an advisory committee made up of diaspora, regional organisation and government representatives from Europe and partner countries. This advisory committee serves as a sounding board to help us refine everything related to the conference, from agenda design to content and speakers.
EUDiF is immensely grateful for the time and energy the advisory committee members are putting in to support the Future Forum.
Angela Naa Ofoloey Odai
Raffaella Greco Tonegutti
Oscar Alvarez
Mariam Keburia
Freedanz Ferdinandz
Maria Regina Tongson
Partnerships create win-win situations with possibilities for all partners to apply their strengths and grow in other areas.
Freedanz Ferdinandz
Co-founder, comdu.it Deutschland