January 21 -26,  2025

Zoom 

Who can attend: Diaspora organizations, partners, stakeholders, and all interested in the Diaspora Sector

4th GDWeek will be seeing three featured activities organized by GDC partners in support to the Global Diaspora Academy (GDAcademy) initiative, which is committed to facilitating the exchange of knowledge among diaspora organizations, with the goals of empowering them to further empower their diaspora communities.

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An introduction to The Diaspora Organization Trainings Trove (DOTT) 

Date: January 22, 2025 

Time: 90 minutes between 2pm and 3.30pm GMT (3pm -4:30pm CET)  

Trainers: Melis Ozbardackci, Leon Isaacs and Roberto Cancel

Organized by: International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and DMA Global

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An introduction to The Diaspora Organization Trainings Trove (DOTT), an innovative, interactive resource designed to empower diaspora organizations worldwide in achieving their goals and maximizing impact. https://publications.iom.int/books/join-dott-diaspora-organization-trainings-trove. This session will focus on Organizational Development and Diaspora Networking, Communications and Partnerships. 

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How to Provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) across Borders 

Date: 22 January 2025

Time: 11 AM – 12.30 PM GMT/UTC  

Host: Avin Mesbah, Capacity Development Specialist (DRC Diaspora Programme).   

Facilitator: Hussain Jafari

Organizer: DEMAC
 

Conflicts and humanitarian crises have a profound impact on mental health and well-being, leaving millions in need of support. In these contexts, where access to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) is often limited, diaspora communities play a critical role in offering remote Psychological First Aid (PFA) to family, friends, and broader networks in their countries of heritage.  
 

The Danish Refugee Council’s Diaspora Programme acknowledges and builds on these efforts by inviting you to a learning session, where you will:

• Learn about key MHPSS concepts. 

• Learn the importance of self-care in effectively supporting others. 

• Discover practical tools and techniques for providing PFA in culturally sensitive contexts. 

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Introduction to the Cycle of Volunteer Management 

Date:  23 January 2025

Time: 2 PM – 3.30 PM GMT/UTC 

Host: Avin Mesbah, Capacity Development Specialist (DRC Diaspora Programme).

Facilitator: Nataliia Kalantaienko, 

Organizer: DEMAC

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Volunteers are essential to driving change across various fields, from humanitarian response to resettlement efforts to climate action and beyond. As smaller volunteer-based initiatives expand, effective volunteer management becomes critical. This session introduces the Volunteer Management Cycle and provides essential tools to recruit, organize, and retain volunteers, fostering sustainable, long-term impact. 
 

The Danish Refugee Council’s Diaspora Programme and the Ukrainian Volunteer Service invite you to a 90-minute session, where you will: 

• Gain insights into the Volunteer Management Cycle and its applications. 

• Strengthen your knowledge of effective strategies for recruiting, onboarding, and motivating volunteers. 

• Explore engagement techniques to cultivate a strong sense of community and belonging among volunteers 

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The Diaspora Dilemma: Investor or Benefactor? Key Factors to Achieve Sustainability and Impact

Date: 25 January 2025

Time: 1 PM – 2.30 PM GMT/UTC

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In this online session, led by Vartan Marashlyan, the Founding Director of REPAT Armenia, participants will explore how diaspora impact investments differ from foreign direct investments, the key sectors and areas where diasporas are most interested in investing and the major constraints preventing home countries from fully benefiting from their diasporas' economic engagement.