Diaspora engagement is all about people and the relations between those in the diaspora and those in government. Likewise, a project is driven by the people behind the logo. As we celebrate five years of EUDiF, members of the current team share key memories from the last few years…
Since we started EUDiF in June 2019, EUDiF has been driven by a team of passionate colleagues at ICMPD. Some of the team have been along for the full five years, whilst others joined (and left) along the way. The core team is strengthened by diaspora youth interns who are now alumni and still connected to the project – but more from them another time.
Each team member has a unique perspective on the project and memories that stand out from involvement across our research, dialogue and capacity development activities, as well as the behind the scenes stuff which make collea
Memories from dialogues
For Liza, Elvina and Oleg, involvement in the dialogues stands out the strongest, particularly the 2023 Future Forum when we finally brought the diaspora-development ecosystem together in person. It was a momentous occasion for the team, one which lives on in all our memories.
“After nearly a year of intensive preparations, the two-day forum was filled with a warm atmosphere of joy and celebration. It was invaluable to finally meet the people behind our initiatives and to build meaningful human connections. The gratitude and excitement expressed by our participants were the greatest rewards for our team’s efforts. It was truly inspiring to witness diversity and the mutual understanding within the global network of the diaspora community!”
The energy and excitement at the Future Forum (FF) 2023 provided a definitively memorable experience. From the process of conceptualising an in-person event, to dealing with challenges and being able to seeing the appreciation of participants at all the effort made to make this event truly engaging and valuable was gratifying. This event highlighted the necessity and positive impact that comes from creating spaces to bring representatives across the diaspora development ecosystem together.”
“After nearly a year of intensive preparations, the two-day forum was filled with a warm atmosphere of joy and celebration. It was invaluable to finally meet the people behind our initiatives and to build meaningful human connections. The gratitude and excitement expressed by our participants were the greatest rewards for our team’s efforts. It was truly inspiring to witness diversity and the mutual understanding within the global network of the diaspora community!”
The energy and excitement at the Future Forum (FF) 2023 provided a definitively memorable experience. From the process of conceptualising an in-person event, to dealing with challenges and being able to seeing the appreciation of participants at all the effort made to make this event truly engaging and valuable was gratifying. This event highlighted the necessity and positive impact that comes from creating spaces to bring representatives across the diaspora development ecosystem together.”
Oleg’s dialogue memory comes long before the Future Forum at which we all witnessed the power of bringing people together. When he presented the project at the Platform for Partnerships under the 12th GFMD Summit, in Quito, January 2020 when EUDiF was just starting out...
“That presentation was accompanied by a number of nice surprises and coincidences that we did not plan at all. There were the representatives of the Portuguese government who hosted the first EUDiF’s regional consultation in Lisbon (autumn 2019) and the representative of a Latin American diaspora and migrants’ organisation, based in Spain, who participated in the same consultation. After introducing EUDiF to the public, I made the connection with the event and these two took the floor and reinforced my messages and expressed their support to the facility. It was a nice example where the importance of connection and networking was powerful.”
“That presentation was accompanied by a number of nice surprises and coincidences that we did not plan at all. There were the representatives of the Portuguese government who hosted the first EUDiF’s regional consultation in Lisbon (autumn 2019) and the representative of a Latin American diaspora and migrants’ organisation, based in Spain, who participated in the same consultation. After introducing EUDiF to the public, I made the connection with the event and these two took the floor and reinforced my messages and expressed their support to the facility. It was a nice example where the importance of connection and networking was powerful.”
Dialogue is essential to accelerate development by building connections, sharing practices, learning from each other and exploring collaboration opportunities. Big events play an important role in scene-setting and community building, allowing different stakeholders to come together. At EUDiF we believe in the power of dialogue, seeing a need to facilitate dialogues on different scales to allow for both the conceptual and operational discussions that will allow us collectively to maximise the potential of diaspora engagement for development.
From our actions
Capacity development is a core service and has led to 16 fascinating actions with a plethora of government and diaspora partners. It is no wonder that Agustín and Hala’s core memories come from two of these partnership projects, given how much time they spent working closely with our partners and the great reward of bringing an idea into reality.
“Presenting the results of our work in front of government stakeholders and civil society in Mexico was incredibly rewarding after our long collaboration with RGMX-UK. Traveling with partners to their home country was an unforgettable experience. We created beautiful memories beyond work as they introduced me to the richness of their culture, the warmth of their people, and – most importantly – their delicious food! These interactions deepened my appreciation for diaspora engagement, highlighting that it is ultimately about people and human connections.
The warm welcome I received from our colleagues in Palawan, Philippines, is one of my top memories. Spending time with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff, Palawan State University (PSU), and diaspora expert Professor Denise Margaret Matias was a unique and inspiring experience. It brought together local partners collaborating on environmental issues and upgrading the curriculum for environmental sustainability education. From teachers to students, everyone came together to learn from and leverage the knowledge of Denise. I also fondly remember savouring the colourful meals from the PSU canteen!
“Presenting the results of our work in front of government stakeholders and civil society in Mexico was incredibly rewarding after our long collaboration with RGMX-UK. Traveling with partners to their home country was an unforgettable experience. We created beautiful memories beyond work as they introduced me to the richness of their culture, the warmth of their people, and – most importantly – their delicious food! These interactions deepened my appreciation for diaspora engagement, highlighting that it is ultimately about people and human connections.
The warm welcome I received from our colleagues in Palawan, Philippines, is one of my top memories. Spending time with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff, Palawan State University (PSU), and diaspora expert Professor Denise Margaret Matias was a unique and inspiring experience. It brought together local partners collaborating on environmental issues and upgrading the curriculum for environmental sustainability education. From teachers to students, everyone came together to learn from and leverage the knowledge of Denise. I also fondly remember savouring the colourful meals from the PSU canteen!
From our knowledge sharing
In five years, we have produced over 220 publications and shared knowledge on diaspora engagement in myriad formats to inform and inspire the global development community. It all started with the global mapping of diaspora engagement, the first activity and the longest running as we update it each year to ensure it is a living repository of knowledge from across the globe. Natural, therefore that Fanny and Charlotte highlight our knowledge resources…
Building the global map took a year of hard work, but that was just the beginning. The real reward did not come from the initial achievement, but from the years of positive feedback that followed its launch. Many stakeholders relied on it, countries built policies around it, and even organisations like the EU and Meta found value in its data. That’s the true testament to the foundation we built!
Publishing and using the typology of institutions stands out to me as it was a true labour of love. We had a huge amount of information to mine from the global mapping and really took the time to analyse (props to Fanny!) the institutions, tell the story of institutionalisation and create something practical. I am really proud of how we recycle and upcycle what we generate in each part of the project – and you never stop learning!
Building the global map took a year of hard work, but that was just the beginning. The real reward did not come from the initial achievement, but from the years of positive feedback that followed its launch. Many stakeholders relied on it, countries built policies around it, and even organisations like the EU and Meta found value in its data. That’s the true testament to the foundation we built!
Publishing and using the typology of institutions stands out to me as it was a true labour of love. We had a huge amount of information to mine from the global mapping and really took the time to analyse (props to Fanny!) the institutions, tell the story of institutionalisation and create something practical. I am really proud of how we recycle and upcycle what we generate in each part of the project – and you never stop learning!
From team building
Like any community, diaspora or otherwise, food bonds the EUDiF team together. Fun fact: At the end of each action we celebrate with a dinner themed to the country in question. Diana’s key memory is a recent one, from when we gathered to reflect on the project’s first phase and plan for the future, whilst learning about the culinary culture of one of our own…
“Despite our different origins in the team, we discovered a shared passion: food. Working globally, we’ve travelled through cuisines, exploring the rich traditions and stories they hold, many shared by diaspora communities. Through our global work, we’ve learned that food is a powerful connector, promoting diversity and inclusion. It pays tribute to globalization and the exchange of experiences and stories through migration, reminding us of the importance of cultural connection. This moment making the cherished Ukrainian dish ‘vareniki’ was a beautiful testament to our shared journey and the bonds we’ve formed.”
“Despite our different origins in the team, we discovered a shared passion: food. Working globally, we’ve travelled through cuisines, exploring the rich traditions and stories they hold, many shared by diaspora communities. Through our global work, we’ve learned that food is a powerful connector, promoting diversity and inclusion. It pays tribute to globalization and the exchange of experiences and stories through migration, reminding us of the importance of cultural connection. This moment making the cherished Ukrainian dish ‘vareniki’ was a beautiful testament to our shared journey and the bonds we’ve formed.”
At the end of the first phase of EUDiF, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the colleagues who have been members of the team: Aurélie Sgro (Senior Project Manager, June 2019 – December 2023), Alexandre Porteret (Associate Project Officer, June 2019 – September 2021) and Andreea Apostu (Project Assistant, June 2019 – April 2022).
We also thank our colleagues from across ICMPD and DG International Partnerships without whom the project would not exist.