PROGRAMME
EUROPEAN DIASPORA EXPERT MEETING ‘Towards Building a European Platform of Diaspora Organizations� Soesterberg, The Netherlands 26-28 February 2010
Purpose The expert meeting is aimed at bringing together migrant organizations from Asia, Latin America and Africa resident in Europe to discuss the possibility and modalities of setting up a European platform of diaspora organizations. The meeting will provide an opportunity to examine the utility of a Europe-wide network, examine the challenges of setting up a broad based, inter-continental platform as well as propose mechanisms for its functioning. In addition, the meeting will draw from the experiences of other existing networks in learning from their best practices, difficulties and lessons learned. The meeting is convened by the Diaspora Forum for Development (DFD), a Netherlands-based platform of more than 40 migrant organizations from Latin America, Asia and Africa.
DAY ONE: FRIDAY 26th February 2010 17.00
Arrival and Check-in (Kontakt der Kontinenten) Registration of Delegates from EU Countries
20.00
Welcome Dinner for EU Delegates with DFD Board Socialisation and Getting to know each other
Coordinators:
Ayaan and Kwaku
DAY TWO: SATURDAY 27th February 2010
I. THE CONTEXT OF DIASPORA NETWORKS IN EUROPE & SHARING OF EXPERIENCES
9.30
Registration of Delegates from The Netherlands
10.00
Welcome and Introduction of Delegates By Santo Lewis Deng, President, Diaspora Forum for Development (DFD)
10.15
Opening Remarks and Presentation of the Programme & Objectives By Dorothe Appels, Director of COS Nederland (Center for International Development Cooperation)
10.30 Keynote Address: Migration and Development its Policy and Context (European and Country level) By Mansoob Murshed, Professor of the Economics of Conflict and Peace International Institute for Social Studies, Den Haag 10.45 11.00
COFFEE AND TEA BREAK Issues and Policies Affecting Migrants in Europe This panel will examine in general terms the process and necessity of setting up a network of diaspora organizations aimed at advancing the role of migrants in the policy debate on migration and development in Europe. Africa Context: Pape Sene Coordination Générale de Migrants pour le Développement (CGMD) Asia Context: Dennis Yaun Overseas Filipinos Worldwide Caucus for Sustainable Development Latin America Context: Christian Daem Centre of Studies for the Relations between the European Union and Latin America (CERCAL)
11.45
II. WORKSHOP: ADVANCING THE ROLE OF MIGRANTS IN POLICY DIALOGUE
12.45
PLENARY: REPORTING
13.30
LUNCH
14.30
III. TOWARDS THE FORMATION OF A EUROPEAN PLATFORM OF DIASPORA ORGANISATIONS Sharing the Experience of African Diaspora Europe-wide Network By Awil Mohamoud, Director African Diaspora Policy Centre
15.45 IV. WORKSHOP: CHALLENGES & PERSPECTIVES ON PLATFORM BUILDING 16.45
BREAK
17.00
PLENARY: REPORTING
17.30 ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSIONS: In depth discussion on specific concerns This section will allow participants to go into in depth discussions on the challenges migrants and migrant organizations face in their host country as well as their countries of origin. Discussions in the groups at the break out session are focused on the following four thematic areas:
Group 1: Linking Partnerships (Europe-Countries of Origin and Europe-wide) Ahmed Ansar, European Bangladesh Forum/BASUG UK Group 2: Institutional Building Elvina Quaison, The African Foundation for Development (AFFORD) Group 3: Lobby and Advocacy Rose Sekoh, Deutsch - Ghanaischen Entwicklungshilfevereins Group 4: Knowledge management & media work Filomenita Hogsholm, Babaylan Denmark Group 5: Finance and Funding Michael Chibili, Kumba Association in the Netherlands (KAN)
18.30 19.00 DAY THREE: SUNDAY 9.00
PLENARY DINNER IV. WAY FORWARD WORKSHOP This session will focus on the specifics on forming an EU-wide network of migrant organizations. The session will deal with two key issues in two working groups: (1) Propose basic principles for the formation, governance and management of an EU-wide platform (2) Propose ideas for the structure, secretariat and interim committee of the platform
10.30
V. PLENARY DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY 1. Adoption of Basic Principles 2. Adoption of Structure and Agenda 3. Choosing / volunteers for Steering Group
12.30
Closing Remarks: By Ismail Awil Oxfam Novib Representative