Background 

In September 2024, IOM and the Government of Cabo Verde co-organized the International Conference on the Future Agenda of Action for Global Diaspora Engagement, during which the Global Diaspora Policy Alliance (GDPA) was officially launched. Formed through an inclusive, multistakeholder consultative process, the GDPA is designed to institutionalize and enhance diaspora engagement by fostering collaboration between governments, diaspora, the private sector, academia and civil society. To offer an actionable and practical framework, the GDPA focuses on three thematic areas—Climate Action, Health and Well-being, and Gender and Youth — aligning its efforts with global priorities such as the Sustainable Development Goals. This strategic approach aims to amplify diaspora-driven solutions within these sectors. The GDPA strives to ensure that diaspora contributions are fully recognized, supported, and maximized, empowering diaspora actors to play a pivotal role in global development and policy formulation.

In parallel, to further integrate diaspora voices and perspectives into the broader development ecosystem, IOM, in collaboration with key partners, has been organizing the annual Global Diaspora Virtual Exchanges (GDVE) since 2020. This initiative serves as a unique and essential platform, bringing together diasporas worldwide to exchange best practices and collaboratively enhance their engagement, empowerment, and participation.

Over its four editions, the GDVE has emphasized the increasingly vital role of diaspora leaders and organizations as key partners in both development and humanitarian initiatives. In 2020, diasporas demonstrated their swift and effective response to the pandemic. Shifting focus in 2021, their efforts centered on providing concrete advice to address three key challenges: building trust, mobilizing resources, and ensuring sustainability. The dialogue in 2023 revolved around discussing strategies to enhance communication skills in project management. Most recently in 2024, stakeholders gathered to identify powerful transnational partnerships and the effective collaboration modalities within the framework of the Global Diaspora Policy Alliance.

The GDVE sessions are closely aligned with the GDPA’s objective of establishing a cohesive global framework for co-creation with diaspora actors. These dialogues, uniting diaspora leaders, policymakers, academics, and youth, have been instrumental in developing an ecosystem that optimizes diaspora engagement. The partnerships forged during these exchanges have facilitated the sharing of best practices, provided targeted guidance, expanded the impact of initiatives through collaboration, and elevated the voices of diaspora communities on a global scale.

Looking ahead, the goal of GDVE 2025 is to contribute to the global ecosystem by engaging key actors who support, enable, and create concrete solutions alongside diaspora communities. The focus will be on assessing and measuring the impact of diaspora-led actions and exploring the factors that contribute to their success. By doing so, the initiative aims to inspire other communities and expand the scope of meaningful, on-the-ground contributions, driving further positive change through diaspora engagement.

General Objectives of the Three 2025 Global Exchanges:  

• Strengthen diaspora self-mobilization and empowerment by creating a dedicated platform for sharing, coordination, and collaboration among diverse diaspora communities worldwide.
• Enhance diaspora engagement in development, humanitarianism, and peacebuilding by offering practical guidance and insights on measuring and showcasing tangible, on-the-ground results.
• Promote intergenerational peer-learning through focused workshops, enabling knowledge exchange and capacity building across different generations within diaspora communities.
• Extract key lessons and best practices on topics prioritized by diaspora members and partners, enabling them to effectively demonstrate their impact and deepen their participation in the Global Diaspora Policy Alliance.

Gender and Youth

• What strategies can governments adopt to effectively integrate the talent of diaspora women and youth into national plans for climate action, health, education, and technology? What are the potential benefits and challenges of such integration?
• How can digital platforms, exchange programmes, and public-private collaborations be leveraged to empower diaspora women and youth in driving development? Can you share examples of successful mentorship, entrepreneurship, and skill-sharing initiatives?
• In what tangible and actionable ways can governments ensure the representation of diaspora women and youth, and other disadvantaged groups, in policymaking?
• What advice can you offer to partners in the public and private sector seeking to align diaspora skills, talent and aspirations, especially from women and youth groups?

Partners 

• GDPA TWG Co-chairs (the Philippines, Somalia, Georgia, Sierra Leone, Cabo Verde)
• Global Diaspora Confederation (GDC)
• Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP)
• Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT)