At the APPC’s Hanoi Conference in May, where we discussed the role of diaspora philanthropy in development and also looked at directions for enabling a strategic view of philanthropy in the region, it became clear that there will have to be a tri-partite partnership between governments, not-for-profits, and the public, including diaspora communities, in addressing development issues. Governments will need to play a major role in creating enabling environments for both organizations and their donors; not-for-profits will need to develop programs that engage stakeholders and serve communities and beneficiaries; and the public will need to support these initiatives and channel resources to where there are none.
Toward these ends, several action recommendations were given at the end of the Conference:
1. Encourage stronger partnerships between governments, both at the national and local level, and non-profit groups and diaspora organizations to implement joint programs and projects that help develop more sustainability for the communities of origin.
2. Give due recognition to the importance of diaspora communities and their potential to contribute to their home countries, to encourage a deeper engagement of overseas communities in the development of communities of origin.
3. Develop/improve channels for diaspora giving such as intermediary organizations, to facilitate both monetary and in-kind giving such as volunteerism and knowledge transfers
4. Develop reliable information on grant-worthy projects and organizations that promote development in their communities and which could be supported by diaspora groups. Diaspora groups, while they have the means and interest to fund projects in their home country, are in need of more reliable information on local organizations and projects.
5. Monitor remittances and diaspora philanthropy flows to be able to analyze diaspora philanthropy patterns and motivations, thus enabling organizations to conceptualize effective programs and diaspora philanthropy promotions.
6. Produce more accurate numbers on diaspora philanthropic activity, both for financial and non-financial terms such as volunteerism and knowledge transfers
All of these show the need for greater transparency, communication, and collaboration between and among governments, not-for-profits, and diaspora or giving communities.
• For stronger partnerships to develop, each party must be open to imparting and receiving information about current issues and trends, and each must be willing to take the necessary steps in developing solutions and addressing challenges.
• For diaspora communities to be recognized, their efforts and the results of these must be made public. States must be able to acknowledge—and even incentivize—these efforts to encourage greater giving even within domestic philanthropists.
• In order to improve channels for diaspora giving and develop reliable information on grant-worthy projects, the not-for-profit sector must commit to ensuring transparency and accountability within their ranks. Some studies in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan, have cited the public’s mistrust of even non-government organizations. In order to restore the public’s trust in such institutions, greater effort must be taken toward clearly and accurately communicating organizations’ programs, finances, and even organizational matters that will impact their relationship with their donors and other stakeholder groups.
• To be able to monitor diaspora philanthropy flows, produce more accurate numbers, and analyze patterns and motivations, all sectors must be willing to work together to undertake and invest in research and further studies on the matter. Organizations must be willing to open their books, donors and philanthropists must be willing to share their motivations and stories, and governments must be open to facilitating this process for the common good.
Ultimately, we need to realize that our work is just beginning. We have barely scratched the surface of potential in this field, but we can all make a greater impact if we work together. We know what we need to move forward; now we need to commit to these steps to achieve our common goals.
In the end, when everyone takes responsibility for transparency, we all win.