On the International Day of Peace, EUDiF Project assistant and Ukrainian diaspora activist Liza explores the significant role that diaspora communities play in safeguarding peace and security worldwide. 

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. The declaration emphasized that peace is more than the absence of conflict; it requires active participation, dialogue, and cooperation, something diasporas have been doing since time immemorial. With this significant anniversary falling in a time of rising tensions and protracted conflicts, it is more important than ever to acknowledge and support the different roles in creating a culture of peace.  

Diaspora individuals and communities are global citizens and local heroes, often simultaneously playing multiple peace-building roles in the different countries they are connected to. 

Facing humanitarian crisis 

There is growing recognition of the roles of diaspora during crisis and conflict, roles which have an impact on subsequent peacebuilding. Diaspora communities are renowned for their swift and effective responses during times of crisis and conflict. As laid out in the case study produced with Shabaka in 2021, diasporas are often the first to mobilise in their host countries, they quickly raise financial support, gather humanitarian and medical aid, organise fundraisers, and spread awareness. Leveraging their rapid mobilisation, deep engagement, and unique contextual knowledge, diasporas amplify the voices of those in need and provide critical emergency support from abroad. 

In a post-crisis setting, diaspora continue to engage, emerging as strong peacebuilders that play distinct roles according to need and interest. We see clear patterns in the roles diasporas are increasingly playing, both formally and informally.   

Roles of diaspora in peacebuilding  

The influence of the diaspora extends far beyond initial humanitarian responses. Unlike many other humanitarian actors who might end their role once they have provided assistance, diaspora communities remain deeply involved in the long-term development of their countries of origin, driven by deep personal connections. Peacebuilding is a crucial component of post-crisis/conflict development, and diaspora communities play a vital, yet often underappreciated, role in this process. 

When EUDiF has looked at various topics within diaspora engagement, the team has identified different types of roles played by the diaspora. Speaking extensively with Project manager Diana Hincu about the topic of peacebuilding, we identified five key roles diaspora play to great effect and often concurrently:     

• Bridgebuilders: Diaspora actors play a crucial role in building trust between their home and host countries on both national and personal levels. By leveraging their dual cultural understanding and deep connections to both regions, they serve as intermediaries for cross-national collaboration, projects, and business initiatives. Their unique position enables them to connect worlds, ensuring that international support and local needs are aligned and mutually reinforcing. Diaspora members can help establish communication channels and foster trust between groups that may not otherwise engage, which is fundamental to global sustainable peace.  
• Gatekeepers and negotiators: Advocacy, lobbying, petitions, campaigns, public demonstrations, and private meetings are organised by diaspora groups and individuals to ensure high levels of awareness and attention to their home countries’ issues. These activities can range from street performances to running for local elections. In all cases, the diaspora acts as a vocal advocate, expressing the needs of their home country. They facilitate their host country’s engagement in peace processes back home and often participate as negotiators, lobby for the recognition of genocide, and contribute to truth commissions, healing, reconciliation, and justice-seeking efforts, mobilising international support. 
• Capacity developers: Diaspora communities connect with local experts or offer their own expertise to spearhead discussions on peacebuilding, sustainable reconstruction, legal reforms, good governance, democracy promotion, human rights, and justice. They can also offer training and capacity-building programs in their countries of origin and mentor local leaders, activists, and entrepreneurs, providing guidance on innovative approaches, including the ones from their host countries. Mentoring fosters a transfer of soft skills such as leadership, communication, and negotiation, in addition to technical skills related to business development, or conflict resolution, empowering local actors to take ownership of peacebuilding.  
• Partnership enablers: Diasporas leverage their connections and international locations to lead discussions on trade, investment, and entrepreneurship. They assist foreign investors in connecting with local representatives and identifying trustworthy partners, facilitate networking, and bring local perspectives to international projects. In doing so, they ensure that foreign development projects and support truly address the needs on the ground.  Acting as informal ambassadors of their home countries, they guide foreign partners through the local context—whether cultural, economic, or political—ensuring the trust and legitimacy of external engagement. Their unique position often grants them access to otherwise inaccessible areas and fosters stronger ties between nations. 
• Promoters: Diaspora members play a pivotal role in peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction by promoting their home country’s culture, values, and interests on the global stage. Acting as cultural ambassadors, they shape international perceptions of their homeland and contribute to reconciliation efforts by bridging divides. By organising cultural exchanges, art exhibitions, music festivals, film screenings, and community dialogues, they not only highlight their rich cultural heritage but also foster greater understanding and tolerance. In addition, diaspora members often engage in intercultural dialogue, showcasing how their home country’s traditions can coexist and blend with global or host country cultures. This creates a space for mutual respect, reduces stereotypes, and helps to alleviate tensions rooted in misunderstanding or prejudice, creating a foundation for sustained peace and rebuilding efforts. 

“During our projects in Ethiopia and Armenia, emerging conflicts created challenges, but the diaspora teams immediately adapted and began playing roles beyond those we had foreseen. Suddenly, as well as experts in their fields (agrobusiness, European law and entrepreneurship), they were also acting as bridge builders, promoters, and negotiators.” – Diana Hincu 

Champions of international peace 

Diaspora representatives carry a piece of their homeland with them wherever they go, and in times of turbulence, their connection to their identity often deepens. Deeply motivated and personally invested, they frequently volunteer their time, expertise, connections, and financial resources to support negotiations, facilitate projects, and provide aid. Uniquely positioned within the international community, diasporas are well-suited to engage in diplomatic efforts, fostering dialogue and raising awareness between their home and host countries to safeguard peacebuilding processes. 

Let us celebrate and honour our diaspora heroes, who tirelessly play multiple peace-building roles across the countries they call home! 

Beyond the roles explored here, the diaspora also plays a crucial part in the healing process by offering mental health support to newly arrived refugees and those displaced by conflict. On this unseen but essential topic, next month I will interview with Jin Dawood, the creator of the Peace Therapist platform, which connects people across Türkiye and the MENA region with transformative mental health support.