Article
Strengthening Humanitarian Response: DEMAC’s Field Visit to Damascus
18 February 2025
In February 2025, DEMAC conducted a field visit to Damascus, Syria, engaging with local and diaspora-led humanitarian organizations to strengthen coordination and enhance response efforts. Against the backdrop of a fragile and unpredictable situation in Syria, following the fall of Assad regime, this visit provided an opportunity to assess current needs, exchange knowledge, and explore ways to reinforce diaspora engagement in relief efforts.
Funding
Call for Proposals: TAKAMUL Fund for Syrian Civil Society Actors
17 February 2025
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 takamul@giz.de.
Article
DEMAC receives grant to strength diaspora humanitarian response in Lebanon
09 January 2025
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.
Article
Hand in Hand for Syria: Building a Healthy and Secure Syrian Society
26 November 2024
Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HIHFAD) is dedicated to rebuilding hope and stability for Syrians impacted by conflict. Founded by Fadi Al-Dairi, HIHFAD works to provide life-saving aid, empower communities, and foster independence, particularly through programs for women and vulnerable populations.
Funding
Call for proposals: Diaspora Small Scale Project Fund
26 September 2024
Are you part of a non-profit organisation in Germany? Does the organisation consist of at least 50 percent people (board or members) with a migration history? Are you interested in contributing to sustainable development in Albania, Cameroon, Colombia, Ecuador, Georgia, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kosovo, Nepal, Serbia, Tunisia, Ukraine and Viet Nam? Then send us your project idea by October 27 2024. The GIZ issues calls for proposals to promote development-relevant small-scale projects by diaspora organisations in their countries of origin. If you would like to contribute to knowledge exchange, especially in the areas of gender equality, combating climate change, health and digitalisation, you can apply with your project idea to one of our calls! We support you in the application process, project planning and the actual implementation of your project idea on site. Project Structure According to the current planning status, projects in this call for proposals can start at the earliest on 01.04.2025, and due to the current duration of our programme, they can run until 31.03.2026, at the latest, allowing for a maximum project duration of 12 months. Please note that these dates are subject to internal GIZ processes and may change. The project goals must be achieved within the funding period. The project should not be implemented by individuals, but by a project team of several members of your association. The project team should have appropriate experience and qualifications. The contractual partner for GIZ is the diaspora organisation in Germany. This diaspora organisation is legally responsible for the content, administrative and financial management of the project during the contract period. However, the involvement of the local partner organisation must be an integral part of the project planning and implementation. The following project activities can be funded: Measures for the qualification of different target groups Introduction of new methods and techniques (mainly through education and trainings) Training/further training of multipliers Awareness-raising measures Activities to anchor and disseminate the knowledge that has been passed on by the diaspora to local groups of actors If you have any questions regarding our funding offer, we invite you to our digital consultation hours, where we will answer general questions: Monday, 07.10.2024, 17:30 - 19:00 (German, CET) Tuesday, 15.10.2024, 17:30 - 19:00 (English, CET) Download application template, learn about the timeline, access more information, get support and see other FAQs.
Funding
How to raise fund as a diaspora organization?
12 September 2024
Governmental institutions (national ministries, regional governments, municipalities etc.), private foundations, intergovernmental organizations, international organizations (IOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), development agencies, embassies and consulates of foreign countries as well as corporations in the private sector are some of the traditional donors through which diaspora organizations can obtain financial support from. However, overreliance or dependence on a single source of funding may jeopardize the long-term sustainability of organizations in the case of donor withdrawal. The financial vulnerability of many diaspora organizations, particularly that of those small-scale which operate with project-based funding, calls for an incentive to explore new methods and innovative approaches to fundraising, such as crowdfunding campaigns or engaging in commercial activities. Through the DRC Fundraising Toolkit for Diaspora Organizations, you can familiarize with yourself with a diverse range of funding sources and receive guidance on how to establish successful fundraising mechanisms and access opportunities for diversifying sources of financing. The toolkit contains three sections: Overview of the funding landscape for diaspora organizations Step-by-step in developing a fundraising strategy Online crowdfunding method Apart from concluding recommendations, this toolkit also provide lists of links to useful online platforms, funding opportunities (both public and private) across the world, and a template for donor profiling. Download the toolkit today by clicking "APPLY HERE" and let it boost your organization's fundraising endeavor!
