News & Events
Call for Proposals: TAKAMUL Fund for Syrian Civil Society Actors
After the fall of the Assad regime, Syria is in a crucial period of transition. Syrian civil society demands a crucial role in the transition to shape the future of the country. The TAKAMUL fund seeks to support Syrian civil society in its engagement in Syria. It allows for applications with a broad range of activities, e.g. from support to basic services and livelihoods to capacity-building and strengthening civil society. In order to strengthen the role of civil society in the transition in Syria, TAKAMUL puts an emphasis on social cohesion, women and youth as well as the relationship between civil actors and public authorities. Social cohesion in Syria remains fragile after years of conflict. Many communities find themselves divided along social, ethnic and sectarian lines, with unequal access to resources and opportunities. Displacement has strained trust between groups and hampered the ability of communities to cooperate and plan their (economic) recovery together, leaving women and youth without avenues for meaningful civic and economic engagement. The exclusion of women and youth from decision-making processes has led to further fragmentation in the country. Women and youth have been disproportionately affected by the conflict, facing increased vulnerability to violence, displacement, and economic marginalisation. They are often lacking opportunities to engage in community-led initiatives that could help bridge these divides. In the selection process, applications will be favoured that address at least one of the following criteria:Strengthening social cohesion: Local communities with particular focus on women and youth will be engaged directly in identifying priorities and designing smaller-scale local initiatives. These local initiatives should focus on economic rehabilitation and development response. Such community-driven activities and dialogues should not only strengthen trust and cooperation but also contribute to social cohesion considering the ethnical and religious diversity in Syria. Improving the relationship between civil actors and public authorities: Where cooperation with local state actors is possible, improving relations between local populations and local authorities is key to ensure more stable and enduring social cohesion. Activities with particular focus on women and youth that promote transparency, accountability and inclusive governance - such as promoting participatory governance processes or creating inclusive economic dialogues between communities and local authorities - help bridge the gap between citizens and decision-makers. Empowering women: Women will be strengthened as civil society actors and in their active participation in decision-making processes. Building the capacity of local organisations and initiatives that campaign for women's rights and connecting them with each other will be supported. The development of women's centers in which female residents can find a safe space to exchange ideas and receive further training is another focus of the field of action. Supporting youth and youth-led initiatives: Youth-led initiatives hold immense potential to strengthen social cohesion and build peace across divided communities. Youth can play a critical role in community resilience and social cohesion efforts, with youth-led initiatives offering a vital platform for them to contribute their voices and leadership to rebuilding Syria’s social fabric. By equipping youth with the tools to organise and participate in community governance, social cohesion and resilience within communities will be strengthened. Click on "SIGN UP" and download the full call for proposals! You can also join the official information session online on February 26th by sending and email to [email protected].
DEMAC receives grant to strength diaspora humanitarian response in Lebanon
DEMAC has been granted an activation fund by the H2H Network to bolster diaspora-led humanitarian efforts in Lebanon. This project aims to enhance the Lebanese diaspora’s response by strengthening coordination, communication, and capacity building among diaspora groups and other humanitarian actors.
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FEATURED DIASPORA
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
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
Powerful flood response by Pakistan's diaspora
Fighting the water crisis with local partners on the ground
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