EUDiF works to consolidate efforts on diaspora engagement for development. We strive to bridge existing gaps between policy development and research, to test out concrete modes of engagement and to create a laboratory of innovative ideas and policies, based on needs and priorities.
We take a multi-stakeholder, consultative and participatory approach so as to holistically transform interest in diaspora engagement into concrete, sustainable action through four interlinking strands of activity on knowledge, capacity development, dialogue and diaspora expertise.
These bring together Europe-based diaspora organisations to share ideas and best practices, generate recommendations for policy makers and build a pan-European network of diaspora development actors.
Between 2019 and 2022 there will be five consultations held to cover all European countries of residence with significant diaspora communities active in development. The first two consultations took part for southwest and western Europe in Lisbon and online respectively, the latter because of travel restrictions during the Covid-19 crisis.
EUDiF works with EU countries to identify suitable diaspora organisations and networks to participate, according to community size, organisation structure and activities.
Consultation reports are available in the library.
During the project, we organise regional meetings with countries in the regions with which DG INTPA works: Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East and Gulf, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
In light of the global health pandemic, these meetings have been transformed into a series of online events, held March - May 2021. For each region there is both a public webinar and
a government roundtable, to enable multi-stakeholder dialogue in addition to peer-to-peer exchange on regional trends in diaspora engagement.
Our annual forum brings all stakeholders together to discuss and celebrate progress on diaspora engagement for development. Each annual forum will have a thematic focus based on priorities identified during EUDiF research and dialogue activities.
The first edition was postponed due to the global health pandemic, it will take place in 2021.
EUDiF regularly liaises with and meets EU national authorities and development agencies and the EU institutions, organising meetings to present their respective work on diaspora engagement as host countries and to identify collaboration opportunities within Europe and beyond.
Diasporas have long been acknowledged as actors for development thanks to their unique transnational understanding, mobility and connection with their country of heritage. However, until now dialogue and collaboration between diaspora organisations, countries of origin, the EU and its Member States has been fragmented, often focusing on bilateral cooperation.
EUDiF has been created by the European Union in response to calls from diaspora for a coordinated, formalised way to contribute to development dialogue at European level and in recognition of the active contribution many diaspora communities make to development. This interest is mirrored by the growing number of countries of origin wishing to better engage their diaspora for development.
Through the EUDiF, we work to consolidate ongoing efforts and maximise the potential of diaspora for development.
EUDiF works with all actors in the diaspora-development ecosystem.
Our main stakeholders are diaspora organisations based in Europe, national authorities from partner countries and EU Member States.
EUDiF’s portfolio of activities includes those targeted to each group individually, and those which brings the groups together, allowing us to create safe spaces and exchange opportunities.
To learn more about what we do with each group and how to get involved with EUDiF, visit our collaboration page.
There are many definitions of 'diaspora', but for EUDiF it refers to emigrants and descendants of emigrants who actively maintain links with their country of origin/heritage and are willing to contribute to its development.
The EUDiF is the first EU funded project with a truly global perspective on diaspora engagement. It works with all actors in the diaspora-development ecosystem to ascertain interests, needs and challenges in order to support and promote collaboration.
EUDiF actively seeks synergies and collaboration opportunities with existing diaspora-engagement projects and organisations.
EUDiF is not a grant-giving mechanism and so does not financially support activities. We offer capacity development support (CDL) and/or short-term support from diaspora professionals (DP4D). We also organise dialogue activities, for which costs are covered by EUDiF.
Although a fixed term pilot project running until the end of 2022, EUDiF is designed to make a long-term contribution to the diaspora-development ecosystem by gathering, generating and sharing knowledge which builds the business case for mainstreaming diaspora in development. EUDiF encourages other actors to work on consolidating diaspora-engagement for development in collaboration, in parallel and subsequently.
EUDiF aspires to empower its partners to work without external assistance by promoting collaborative design during the dialogue, capacity building and expert deployment activities in order to ensure ownership and to pave the way for further collaboration even after EUDiF finishes.
As an EU-funded project, EUDiF supports the European Commission's drive to achieve the SDGs, the global framework for development.
Although there is no specific target on diaspora engagement in the SDGs, they recognise the positive effect of migrants on growth and sustainable developments as drivers of the global economy, particularly through remittances.
The EUDiF mapping is designed to consolidate existing research which is mostly country/theme-focused into a global overview of diaspora engagement. This is designed to collect the policies, practices and priorities on diaspora engagement around the world so as to create an open access knowledge hub on diaspora engagement.
The findings also feed into the project's other components and will be used, inter alia, to identify potential capacity building needs, to structure dialogue in the various meetings, and to highlight opportunities for diaspora expert deployment.
The full mapping will cover 100 countries, with research conducted in two phases of 50. EUDiF will endeavour to add additional countries during the project, depending on resources.
A comprehensive methodology was used to select the 100 countries. We used a series of objective criteria to select the countries in order to include countries of all size, representing all levels of economic development and institutionalisation of diaspora engagement. The number of countries per region is proportional to the total number of countries in each region.
EUDiF works with all countries in the regions in which DG INTPA works (Africa; Asia; Eastern Europe & Central Asia, the Middle East and Gulf; Latin America and Caribbean; Pacific).
We will map a minimum of 100 countries among the partner countries and use this to build knowledge and support packs around regional and thematic priorities.
All partner countries are encouraged to apply for the Capacity Development Lab or the Diaspora Professionals 4 Development mechanism and to attend regional thematic meetings, or email eu-diaspora@icmpd.org to speak bilaterally.
We try to invite a diverse mix of nationalities and profiles in so as to create new networking and peer-learning opportunities. We do this by considering diaspora size in country of destination, organisations' development activities and their capacity to contribute to EUDiF activities in a sustainable manner. Given the overarching objective of supporting sustainable development in our partner regions, we invite diaspora organisations that are focused on or interested in enhancing their contribution to development.
Countries of origin of EU-based diaspora groups are invited to RTMs to exchange on the opportunities, challenges and experiences of diaspora engagement.
Through the meetings, we aim to establish peer networks and identify national, regional and thematic interests in diaspora engagement. EUDiF proposes themes based on the results of research and discussion with invitees.
The Future Forum is an annual event intended to bring all stakeholders in the diaspora-development ecosystem together to exchange practices and discuss potential collaborations.
The first Future Forum took place in June 2021 (delayed from June 2020 by the Covid-19 pandemic). It had three themes: the future of the ecosystem; going green; and youth drive.
The interlinking meetings create opportunities for the major players in the diaspora-development ecosystem to discuss among peers. EUDiF seeks to facilitate these discussions and to distill the knowledge generated to share with the wider development community. We then invite all stakeholders to discuss #diaspora4dev together at the annual Future Forum.
Recommendations generated during meetings are shared with the European Union and its Member States, diaspora organisations based in Europe, and partner countries.
As well as feeding the discussions for the Future Forum, the various meetings help shape EUDiF's capacity building activities and diaspora expertise mechanism.
EUDiF follows global and national guidelines and restrictions in place to limit the spread of Covid-19. As of March 2020, dialogue activities have been run online. We try to maximise interactivity and create a variety of dialogue opportunities for all partners.
EUDiF takes a flexible approach to identify targeted activities, catering to diverse needs and priorities.
Our Capacity Development Lab offers support to diaspora organisations in the EU and local, national and regional authorities in partner countries, including joint activities for diaspora and authorities together.
A first call for applications was opened in October 2020, with a second in June 2021. Full details on application procedures and eligibility are available on the Capacity Development Lab page, as well as information on ongoing actions.
Diaspora are powerful agents of sustainable development thanks to their unique transnational understanding, mobility and relationship with their country of heritage. There is often a will to support and contribute to their development practically.
At EUDiF we believe in mainstreaming diaspora expertise for sustainable development when said diaspora expertise can bring added value. Specifically, through our Diaspora Professionals 3 Development pilot mechanism we seek to complement existing initiatives and build the business case for hiring diaspora experts when appropriate in order to maximise the potential of transnational knowledge.
Through Diaspora Professionals 4 Development (DP4D), EUDiF facilitates short-term human capital transfer activities from diaspora professionals towards institutions from partner countries or regional organisations in five key sectors. Only local, national and regional institutions in partner countries are eligible to submit a request. A first call for requests was opened in October 2020, with a second in June 2021. Full details on application procedures and eligibility are available on the Human Capital page, as well as information on ongoing actions.
Professionals from diaspora are invited to register to the EUDiF expert roster.
The internship is an opportunity for young diasporans in Europe who are interested in a career in migration and development and/or international project management. Each spring and autumn, EUDiF welcomes an intern to join the team for five months. Participants gain hands-on experience in the implementation of an EU-funded project on diaspora engagement and EUDiF benefit from the knowledge and personal experience of the interns to support project activities.
The EUDiF Internship Programme relies on a win-win approach. Ultimately, the internship contributes to mainstreaming diaspora expertise into development projects and investing in the professional development of highly-skilled diaspora youth.
Internship opportunities are announced via EUDiF's website, newsletter and Twitter; application is via ICMPD's website.