How are you engaging Diaspora for development?

Become a Member of the OCIC Diaspora Engagement Networking Group 

“Diaspora: Individuals, communities and groups living in one country while maintaining a sense of identity and engagement with their country or region of origin or heritage.” – Global Affairs Canada

The OCIC Diaspora Engagement Networking Group is open to Diaspora groups and international cooperation organizations and institutions, who engage with or would like to connect with diaspora communities and individuals in Ontario. The aim is to better understand and get to know diaspora groups in Ontario (organizations, demographics, areas of work/focus); to create strategies to engage diaspora groups with OCIC members and activities, and to identify opportunities of partnership and collaboration with diaspora groups in sustainable development.

Purpose

• Identify and map Diaspora groups working in sustainable development in Ontario (organizations, demographics, SDG’s areas of work/focus)
• Promote opportunities for Diaspora groups engagement and partnership with OCIC members and activities.
• Develop skills and competencies of Diaspora Groups engaged in development work through trainings and opportunities offered by OCIC and/or affiliated members.

Call out for Diaspora Networking Group Co-Chairs

The Diaspora Networking Group (NWG) is looking for 2-3 Co-Chairs to lead the group’s engagement for 2018-2019.

The diaspora engagement executive is a volunteer group of individuals who work to support and engage diaspora groups/organizations working in sustainable development. 

Expectations:

• Attend/host monthly meetings
• Dedicate 5-8 hours per month to plan, facilitate and follow up on meetings and members queries, coordinate and communicate with OCIC support.
• Be informed and actively seek and promote Diaspora in development news, engagement activities and collaboration opportunities.

If you are interested, please contact Eugenia Ochoa, OCIC Public Engagement Coordinator, at public.engagement[at]ocic.on.ca by September 14, 2018. Please include a brief introduction and why you are interested in steering the Diaspora NWG this year.

For general information and to join the group, please contact Eugenia Ochoa at public.engagement[at]ocic.on.ca

 

Resources:
Cultural Communities for Sustainable Development Consultation Report

OCIC supports targeted opportunities for networking by convening Networking Groups on topics of collective interest. OCIC Networking Groups meet on a periodic basis and communicate on listservs to collaborate on mutual interests, share information, and discuss challenges and good practice. OCIC Networking Groups are Chaired or co-Chaired by members of the Council, with support from staff, as needed. To join a Networking Group or to pitch a topic you would like to lead, contact Lisa Swainston at admin[at]ocic.on.ca.

Past OCIC Networking Groups have included:

The OCIC Global Experience Networking Group, for members that coordinate international internships and volunteer sending programs. The group met periodically in person, and functioned primarily as a listserv to share resources, methods, challenges and opportunities involved in supporting interns and volunteers in their placements with international partner organizations. For more information, contact Lisa Swainston at admin[at]ocic.on.ca.

The OCIC Safety and Security Issues Networking Group, as a space for members that are responsible for the health and safety of program or project staff, interns or volunteers working overseas. The group helped to facilitate information sharing related to safety and security in the international cooperation context, and to support the capacity building, public engagement and advocacy interests of its members and other stakeholders. For more information, read our TORs and contact Jeff Eames at taratraining[at]gmail.com, and Jakub Nemec at nemec[at]salanga.org.