Diaspora Partnerships: An Irish Experience

Karl GardnerDeputy Director, Irish Abroad Unit

Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Ireland

Riga, 17 December, 2012

Why Diaspora Matter

• 1 out of every 33 people in the world are migrants (IOM)

• Migrant remittances are 3 times the amount of official development aid (World Bank)

• At current rates, there could be 405 million international migrants by 2050 (IOM)

The Irish Emigration Experience

• Part our “National Psyche”

• Regular movements of people throughout history

• The Great Famine of 1840s – 1 million died & 2 million emigrated < 20 years. 350,000 left between 1846 and 1847

• Population: 6.5m in 1841 – 3m in 1926

• Global Irish Diaspora of some 70 million

• Assimilating in a new land

Critical Roles Played by DiasporasDelivering Peace

Building Economic Development

Raise Awareness of Culture of the Homeland

Create a Positive Brand in their Adopted Land

Leverage High Level Influence and Access

Defining a Diaspora

• Broad Definition as our Diasporas are Broad

• “Being Irish” is a powerful identity that people are proud of

• Engagement requires a cross generational and multi faceted policy

The Irish Abroad Unit I

• Operation underpinned by

Our Constitution

The 2002 Taskforce on Emigrants Report

• Responsibility for Diaspora engagement centralised in DFAT in 2004. Provided a home and ministerial competence for a wide range of issues of

concern to the Irish abroad

Greater structure to the engagement by Embassies and other agencies

A framework for the establishment of a funding mechanism to support communities overseas

The Irish Abroad Unit II

• Our mission is to maintain and strengthen links with Irish communities abroad

• Key issues

Supporting the most vulnerable of our emigrants Pursuing appropriate legal avenues for emigration Supporting Irish Immigration centres and new arrivals Address issues which facilitate assimilation in new home Manage our Diaspora Recognition Programmes Engaging the key influencers and leverage their experience

and expertise as we work towards economic recovery

The Emigrant Support Programme

•Supports Irish communities overseas and encourages closer links between these communities and Ireland

•Over €100m in grants has been allocated since 2004

•The emphasis is on frontline services, targeted at the most vulnerable

•Other areas include:information and immigration advisory services cultural and heritage programmes and capital support projects that support the our economic renewal

•Significant geographical spread mirrors our Diaspora

•A flexible programme – able to adapt

The Global Irish Network

•A network of the most influential Irish and Irish-connected individuals abroad

•350 members based in almost 40 countries covering a diversity of sectors •Greater strategic direction and coherence to the manner in which the Government engages with our most senior Irish contacts around the world

•The Network has proved to be particularly effective: as a source of structured advice facilitating high level access to decision makers a direct role in job creation support and assistance in our work to build a strong international reputationparticipation in a number of new initiatives

Projects undertaken in conjunction with the Global Irish

• The Global Irish Economic Forum 2009 and 2011• Invest in Ireland Fora• The Gathering• Global Irish Contacts Programme• Philanthropy• Advocates for Ireland• New Generation and Sector Specific Projects

Irish Technology Leadership Group IN-USA Wild Geese Farmleigh Fellowship Food Networks Education Initiatives – Affinity Diaspora

• Ireland Reaching Out – Reverse Diaspora

Lessons Learned• Diasporas are not homogeneous groups - a range of different strategies is required

• Government should be a facilitator rather than sole implementer

• Diaspora Engagement is a process not an outcome

• Engagement does not automatically happen and we must work at it

• Essential to maintain and build connections;

• Regular and relevant meetings in the home and host countries

• Must be clear asks and tasks

• A two way partnership

• Be attentive to the concerns and issues that impact your communities abroad

• Connect leaders and organisers within the diaspora to similar people at home

• Use technology- portals, social media

• Engage the next generation

• Diaspora play crucial role in developing a country’s brand abroad