Diaspora Partnerships:
An Irish Experience
Karl Gardner
Deputy Director, Irish Abroad Unit
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Ireland
Riga, 17 December, 2012
Why Diaspora Matter
• 1 out of every 33 people in the world are
migrants (IOM)
• Migrant remittances are 3 times the amount
of official development aid (World Bank)
• At current rates, there could be 405 million
international migrants by 2050 (IOM)
The Irish Emigration Experience
• Part our “National Psyche”
• Regular movements of people throughout history
• The Great Famine of 1840s –
 1 million died & 2 million emigrated < 20 years.
 350,000 left between 1846 and 1847
• Population: 6.5m in 1841 – 3m in 1926
• Global Irish Diaspora of some 70 million
• Assimilating in a new land
Critical Roles Played by Diasporas
 Delivering Peace
 Building Economic Development
 Raise Awareness of Culture of the Homeland
 Create a Positive Brand in their Adopted Land
 Leverage High Level Influence and Access
Defining a Diaspora
• Broad Definition as our Diasporas are Broad
• “Being Irish” is a powerful identity that people
are proud of
• Engagement requires a cross generational and
multi faceted policy
The Irish Abroad Unit I
• Operation underpinned by
 Our Constitution
 The 2002 Taskforce on Emigrants Report
• Responsibility for Diaspora engagement centralised in DFAT in 2004.
 Provided a home and ministerial competence for a wide range of
issues of concern to the Irish abroad
 Greater structure to the engagement by Embassies and other agencies
 A framework for the establishment of a funding mechanism to support
communities overseas
The Irish Abroad Unit II
• Our mission is to maintain and strengthen links with
Irish communities abroad
• Key issues
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Supporting the most vulnerable of our emigrants
Pursuing appropriate legal avenues for emigration
Supporting Irish Immigration centres and new arrivals
Address issues which facilitate assimilation in new home
Manage our Diaspora Recognition Programmes
Engaging the key influencers and leverage their experience
and expertise as we work towards economic recovery
The Emigrant Support Programme
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Supports Irish communities overseas and encourages closer links between these
communities and Ireland
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Over €100m in grants has been allocated since 2004
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The emphasis is on frontline services, targeted at the most vulnerable
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Other areas include:
 information and immigration advisory services
 cultural and heritage programmes and capital support
 projects that support the our economic renewal
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Significant geographical spread mirrors our Diaspora
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A flexible programme – able to adapt
The Global Irish Network
• A network of the most influential Irish and Irish-connected individuals
abroad
• 350 members based in almost 40 countries covering a diversity of sectors
• Greater strategic direction and coherence to the manner in which the
Government engages with our most senior Irish contacts around the world
• The Network has proved to be particularly effective:
 as a source of structured advice
 facilitating high level access to decision makers
 a direct role in job creation
 support and assistance in our work to build a strong international
reputation
 participation in a number of new initiatives
Projects undertaken in conjunction
with the Global Irish
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The Global Irish Economic Forum 2009 and 2011
Invest in Ireland Fora
The Gathering
Global Irish Contacts Programme
Philanthropy
Advocates for Ireland
New Generation and Sector Specific Projects
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Irish Technology Leadership Group
IN-USA
Wild Geese
Farmleigh Fellowship
Food Networks
Education Initiatives – Affinity Diaspora
Ireland Reaching Out – Reverse Diaspora
Lessons Learned
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Diasporas are not homogeneous groups - a range of different strategies is required
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Government should be a facilitator rather than sole implementer
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Diaspora Engagement is a process not an outcome
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Engagement does not automatically happen and we must work at it
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Essential to maintain and build connections;
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Regular and relevant meetings in the home and host countries
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Must be clear asks and tasks
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A two way partnership
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Be attentive to the concerns and issues that impact your communities abroad
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Connect leaders and organisers within the diaspora to similar people at home
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Use technology- portals, social media
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Engage the next generation
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Diaspora play crucial role in developing a country’s brand abroad