The IdEA Organization and How USAID Is Reaching Out to U.S. Diaspora Communities

IdEA's Mission

The International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA) promotes and supports diaspora-centered initiatives in entrepreneurship, volunteerism, philanthropy, diplomacy, and social innovation in countries and regions of diaspora origin. IdEA is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that engages global diaspora communities, the private sector, civil society, and public institutions in collaborative efforts to support economic and social development.

IdEA's Work

IdEA opens opportunities for diaspora communities to give back to their countries of origin or ancestry. IdEA’s activities are organized around four principal pillars: entrepreneurship, volunteerism, philanthropy, and social innovation. Diaspora communities make vital but little-recognized contributions to the progress of their countries of origin or ancestry. They often share goals with governments, businesses, and NGOs. Common objectives include: 

• Broad-based economic growth
• Thriving civil society
• Widespread participation in good governance
• Access to global markets for skills and financial capital
• Robust trading partnerships
• Growing participation in science, technology, and communication innovations

Many diaspora groups are working to achieve greater impact and a stronger voice in matters that relate to their countries of origin. IdEA supports diaspora communities by:

Convening Partners

Diasporas network with private sector, non-profit and government partners at IdEA meetings and conferences. Through these events, participants develop concepts as well as operational plans for projects that bring about stronger diaspora engagement with countries of origin. They also learn from the experience and knowledge of others. 

Mobilizing Resources

Diasporas gain access to new resources through IdEA partnerships. IdEA connects diaspora members to business competitions such as the African Diaspora Marketplace and the Caribbean Idea Marketplace, implemented by IdEA partners. It is developing a portal to encourage donations to diaspora organizations. 

Developing Capacity

IdEA offers technical assistance and training for members of the diaspora who participate in IdEA programs.  IdEA’s website makes it easy for diasporas to keep up-to-date with the latest data and analysis about trends in diaspora engagement and opportunities for collaboration. 

Implementing Projects

IdEA, together with its partners, designs projects that reflect the goals of the Alliance. Diasporas can find information about these projects on the website and apply to participate.

What is a Diaspora?

Diaspora means “to scatter” in Greek, but today we use the term to describe a community of people who live outside their shared country of origin or ancestry but maintain active connections with it. A diaspora includes both emigrants and their descendants. 

While some people lose their attachment to their ancestral homeland, others maintain a strong connection to a place which their ancestors may have left generations ago. Many Americans come from mixed heritage and therefore can claim membership in multiple diaspora communities.

IdEA's Story

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton launched IdEA at the inaugural Global Diaspora Forum in May 2011. IdEA is a non-partisan, non-profit organization managed via a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Migration Policy Institute (MPI).

IdEA's Partners

Strategic Partners

IdEA is advised by its Strategic Partners, a select group comprised of donors and high-level stakeholders from the business community, diaspora organizations, foundations, U.S. government agencies, and international organizations. This collective provides strategic guidance and is instrumental in enabling IdEA to implement its programs and events. Interested in becoming an IdEA Partner? For more information, please contact IdEA. Boom Financial, The Western Union Company, OneVietnam, The HAND Foundation

Program Partners

IdEA Program Partners collaborate with IdEA in designing and implementing projects that promote diasporic engagement. Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, Global Entrepreneurship Week, New American Media, MentorCloud, Scotiabank, GlobalGiving, Digicel, OPIC

Contact IdEA

Have a question for IdEA? Want to get involved? They want to hear from you.

info@diasporaalliance.org 

International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA) c/o Migration Policy Institute 1400 16th Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20036-2257