News & Events
EU Fund: Connect for Global Change
Connect for Global Change is an EU-funded project that is the result of a collaboration between eleven European organizations. In Denmark, CISU manages the project. As part of the project, a funding pool has been set aside for information and engagement projects. The pool can be applied for by Danish civil society organizations. The first application deadline is Wednesday, November 27 at 12 noon and the next one in the fall of 2025. Hear more about the project and the opportunities to apply for the new EU fund when we hold the launch event at Vartov, Copenhagen, on October 2, 2024. Who can apply? Any Danish civil society organizations, preferably in collaboration with others, can apply for this fund. Please note that organizations with an annual turnover exceeding DKK 75 million cannot apply. What kind of projects does this fund support? The fund supports information and engagement projects that contribute to Connect for Global Change's goal of empowering, engaging and connecting people in Denmark to take responsibility for a sustainable world. Projects should target those who may not be as aware of or involved in global challenges. Projects should promote: Critical understanding: Increase citizens' ability to reflect and take informed positions. Meaningful engagement: Motivate practitioners to take responsibility for the cause and lead others. Global development: Focus on topics such as social and environmental justice, gender equality or other topics within the UN Global Goals. Projects can choose to focus on: Young people: Projects designed and led by young people themselves. Gender norms: Challenging traditional gender norms to address unequal power relations. How much is the amount? You can apply for between €5,000 and €26,000 (7% administration can be added to the amount applied for). Please note that Connect for Global Change covers a maximum of 20% of costs in countries on the EU list of developing countries and territories. Please also note that any grant will be paid out in two installments. The first 80% of the total amount granted will be paid at the start of the action, while the remaining 20% will be paid when the project is completed and CISU has received and approved the final accounts and report for the grant. How to apply? All applications are submitted digitally to CISU via Our CISU, where you upload the application form and budget format as well as mandatory attachments. Forms and formats will be made available on this page after summer 2024. Please note that you as the main applicant must be registered in Our CISU in advance of the application deadline. Learn more about the fund and other FAQ here.
Filling Key Gaps in Emergency Response: Strengths and Challenges of Somali Diaspora
DEMAC launches a New Report on "Diaspora Humanitarian Engagement in Somalia".
CURRENT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
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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