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Diaspora Project Support (DiPS) fund

The DiPS fund grants approximately 1,700,000 DKK per year to Danish-based Somali and Afghan diaspora organizations for development and rehabilitation projects in their countries of origin. Applicants can apply for funding under TRACK 1 (up to 150.000 DKK) or TRACK 2 (150.000- 300.000 DKK) for projects lasting up to 12 months. Applications are assessed and selected according to two main criteria; (i) diaspora engagement and diaspora contribution; (ii) project impact.  Applicants for TRACK 1 funding do not need to have previous experience implementing projects. To be eligible for TRACK 2 applicants must show documentation of previous experience managing grants. For TRACK 2 the applicant must also provide 5% own contribution of the total project expenditure.  Who can apply? Only Somali and Afghan diaspora individuals and organizations in Denmark are eligible to apply for funding through the DiPS fund. The requirements that you must meet are: For TRACK 1 and 2:  Applicants must be an established non-profit Somali or Afghan diaspora organization in Denmark; The diaspora applicant may not be involved in an ongoing project funded by DiPS at the time of application; At least two contact persons must be members of Afghan or Somali diaspora; It is mandatory to have two diaspora representatives actively involved in developing the project; It is allowed to submit applications as collaborations between two or more diaspora organizations.  For TRACK 1: Organizations from the Afghan or Somalia diaspora can apply for funding. It is not a requirement to have any previous experience with implementing projects. For TRACK 2: Your diaspora organization must have previous experience implementing projects and managing grants of 100,000 DKK or more. Proof of previous experience must be submitted together with the application. Please not that only a limited number of projects will be approved for Track 2, resulting Track 2 to be more competitive. Which projects can be funded? Projects activities that contribute to rehabilitation and/or development for people affected by conflict and displacement in Afghanistan and Somalia or neighboring countries hosting significant Afghan or Somali communities may be supported by DiPS. The project can last up to 12 months. Projects will be assessed and selected to continue to the develop phase based on scores in three categories; Constructive diaspora engagement and diaspora contribution High project impact Diaspora applicant motivation and capacity development potential Does DiPS offer help with the application? If you have questions about applying for the DiPS fund the Application Guidelines (see Application Package) is very helpful. DiPS also provides help through workshops and trainings before the application deadline. You can also book a meeting with DiPS consultant Dharbaxo to discuss your idea. Read more in our capacity development page.  For more information you can visit the DiPS website.

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Filling Key Gaps in Emergency Response: Strengths and Challenges of Somali Diaspora

DEMAC launches a New Report on "Diaspora Humanitarian Engagement in Somalia".

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Diaspora Toolkit: Guidance on Training and Learning Resources

A short hands-on pocket guide to support diaspora organizations in their humanitarian response.

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CURRENT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

WHAT WE DO

DEMAC works for a better understanding of diasporas as humanitarian actors

KNOWLEDGE & AWARENESS

of diasporas' humanitarian engagement

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

for diaspora & local humanitarian networks

OPERATIONAL RESPONSE

& coordination across diaspora, local & institutional actors

FEATURED DIASPORA

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How an earthquake unites the Caribbean Diaspora

Ten years ago, when Dr. Magalie Emile-Backer co-founded the diaspora organization HRA – Haiti Renewal Alliance in the US, she had not imagined the scale of disaster her country of birth would be facing. Originally established as a platform to mobilise diaspora skills and resources for development and entrepreneurship in Haiti, the organization has quickly adapted their operations to humanitarian relief, following emergencies such as the 2021 earthquake.When history strikes againA decade ago, an earthquake struck just outside Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced.On Saturday August 14, 2021, the island was hit again, by a temblor two times larger than the one in 2010. It took only 30 seconds for this 7.2 magnitude earthquake to devastate the Southwest Region of Haiti. Latest figures estimate that 800,000 people, including 340,000 children, have been affected by the earthquake which has left more than 2,200 dead and over 12,000 injured.The earthquake could not have come at a worst time for Haiti, which is still reeling from the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on 7 July 2021. Combined with escalating gang violence this has resulted in the internal displacement of around 19,000 Haitians, while 4.4 million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance prior to the earthquake, half of them children.      Coordinating disaster response across an umbrella HRA activated its Haitian Diaspora Emergency Response Unit (HDERU) via www.onediaspora.org shortly after the earthquake and managed to streamline humanitarian response efforts. First, it launched a diaspora fundraising campaign in partnership with its Haitian diaspora platform www.onediaspora.org, where within few weeks, more than 60 diaspora groups raised 1.5 million USD through a collective fundraiser.Secondly, Haiti Renewal Alliance oversaw and coordinated the relief efforts of members in the US as an umbrella organization. They organized regular online member meetings to discuss needs on the ground in Haiti and aligned their humanitarian activities. Instant sharing of information helped to overcome logistical barriers and HRA could identify and fill gaps in providing aid to affected, local communities.Some numbers & facts: More than 60 diaspora groups raised 1.5 million USD.  Over 200 organizations, government officials and health care workers participated in situational briefings HRA sourced local supplies by connecting local companies with the Haitian government’s needs assessment report team. HRA could deliver and distribute 2000 units of 5 gallons water, 500 tents and tarps, and containers filled with medical and hygiene supplies towards affected Haitian communities.   This was only possible, because members of HRA were agile and utilized relationships with local civil society groups. In addition, they coordinated with institutional partners like USAID to mobilize additional diaspora financial resources and expertise.        Building back better togetherBy September 30 2021, HRA deactivated its Haitian Diaspora Emergency Response Unit (HDERU). However, relief and long-term recovery efforts will continue for affected people via www.onediaspora.org. OneDiaspora's mission is to maximize support of Haiti’s private sector, particularly small and medium enterprises, to ensure the local economy is not disrupted.Like HRA, several diaspora organizations involved in humanitarian response engage in humanitarian action before, during and after crises occur, meaning that they can draw on networks and expertise to identify needs, mobilize resources and respond to crises across the so called humanitarian-development nexus. This agility ensures that diaspora's often can shift relatively easily from a development to a humanitarian focus (or vice versa). A quality, which not only helps to save lives immediately, but ensures a long-term engagement in building back a country together.   Photo Credit: Heater Suggitt, Bill Hamway Goha & Zach Vessel on unsplash.com

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Building A Better Response: New E-Learning Platform

The new Building A Better Response (BBR) e-learning platform is here! Launched in 2022, the platform features updated learning modules, new avatars, an updated color palette, and new case study assessments.   Humanitarians in focus Since 2012, BBR has been used as an onboarding tool for new humanitarian professions across a range of local and international NGOs. BBR's key objectives are to train new humanitarian actors and to refresh the knowledge of experienced humanitarian actors. BBR has improved knowledge of the humanitarian system for close to 90,000 learners based in 224 countries and territories around the world.   Available in several languages The course is available in 4 languages: English, Arabic, French, and Spanish. Voiceover options are also available in Polish and Ukrainian. Transcript translations are available in Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Dari, and Urdu.   Who is behind the E-Learning Platform Funded by the US Agency for International Development Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance, the project is being implemented through a consortium that brings together a combination of operational and technical expertise, spearheaded by International Medical Corps in collaboration with Concern Worldwide and the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative.   Enroll HERE and contribute to a better response in humanitarian assistance 

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Powerful flood response by Pakistan's diaspora

Fighting the water crisis with local partners on the ground

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DIASPORA RESPONSE MAP

Get an instant overview of where diaspora organizations respond

JOIN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY

Get recognized for your humanitarian response

BECOME A MEMBER AND SHARE YOUR SUCCESSES & CHALLENGES

EXPAND YOUR NETWORK AND GET INSPIRED

Increase your visibility for your diaspora network

DEMAC is a global initiative aiming at enhancing mutual knowledge and coordination, communication and coherence between diaspora humanitarian actors and the institutional humanitarian system.

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