DEMAC - Diaspora Emergency Action & Coordination

DEMAC is a global initiative hosted by DRC and funded by USAID. DEMAC works for a deeper understanding of diasporas as humanitarian actors and strives for better coordination between diaspora organizations, local networks and the institutional humanitarian system.

Who are we?

We, DEMAC - Diaspora Emergency Action & Coordination, are a global initiative who work for a deeper understanding of diasporas as humanitarian actors and strive for better coordination between diaspora organizations and the humanitarian system. We aim to facilitate higher levels of engagement and visibility for diaspora organizations in the humanitarian system.

Increasing awareness for diaspora’s humanitarian interventions
Enhancing knowledge between diasporas and humanitarian institutions
Improving coordination, communication and coherence of humanitarian response

Why Humanitarian Coordination?

Diasporas are part of a broader humanitarian ecosystem playing a key role in humanitarian responses and providing vital support to communities in countries of origin.

In light of their transnational identity and close local ties, diaspora organizations are part of, and play a central role in localization. Localization aims to strengthen the resilience of local communities and to support local and national responders on the front line.

Diaspora organizations are heterogeneous

Diaspora organizations have different capacities, values and approaches – and can, as part of a broader humanitarian community, play a valuable and agile role in humanitarian responses.

However, assistance provided by diaspora organizations and the institutional humanitarian actors often follow parallel tracks, resulting in a lack of mutual understanding and recognition, and thus a lack of coordination and collaboration that would be of benefit to the overall response.

Our mission is to improve coordination and collaboration among diaspora organizations providing humanitarian assistance and across diaspora organizations and institutional humanitarian actors. We further aim to increase visibility and engagement for diaspora organizations in the humanitarian system.

DEMAC - Diaspora Emergency Action & Coordination

Strengthening coordination since 2015

Building on expertise gained since its inception in 2015, we have developed a one-stop-shop for enhancing mutual knowledge and coordination between diaspora humanitarian actors and the international humanitarian system.

Building on these experiences and the past and present research, we develop an operational framework for diaspora and humanitarian actors, to improve future responses to humanitarian emergencies.

Complementing these aims, we develop guidelines, tools and resources in support of diaspora emergency engagement, with a view to remaining prepared to support diaspora organizations’ engagement in new emergency responses and facilitate coordination among responding diaspora organizations and between diaspora organizations and the humanitarian system.

Questions, comments or interested in collaborating with us?

Get in touch! Visit our website www.demac.org and write to us at [email protected]

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