Diaspora Organizations and Their Humanitarian Response in Pakistan: Enhancing Coordination in Humanitarian Settings

DEMAC aims to contribute to transforming the humanitarian ecosystem by laying the groundwork for a deeper understanding of diasporas as humanitarian actor groups with different modus operandi for the implementation of aid in practice. Diaspora organizations are multi-sectoral, fast-responding actors who work transnationally, including in countries experiencing humanitarian crises. They often have a connection with and understanding of their country of origin or heritage, which plays a vital role in humanitarian assistance. Diaspora organizations are key actors in raising the alarm in times of crisis, collecting and distributing funds rapidly, and providing vital support to communities in countries of origin. Supporting diaspora as part of a broader humanitarian ecosystem contributes to the relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability of humanitarian responses. The localization agenda, a key commitment under the Grand Bargain, aims to strengthen local communities and support local and national responders on the front line. Diaspora organizations are heterogeneous, with different capacities, values, and approaches, and can play a valuable and agile role in humanitarian responses. However, assistance provided by diaspora organizations and formal humanitarian actors often follow parallel tracks, resulting in a lack of mutual understanding and recognition, and thus a lack of coordination and collaboration. DEMAC has been working to address this issue through research, knowledge development, and the development of operational frameworks for diaspora and humanitarian actors to improve future responses to humanitarian emergencies. DEMAC has conducted studies to increase understanding of motivations and modus operandi of diaspora humanitarian engagement, replacing assumptions with evidence on diaspora contributions. The organization has also piloted joint messaging and participation of diasporas as a stakeholder group to the Humanitarian Summit in 2016, and has developed a standardized approach for the international humanitarian system to document the role and impact of diaspora in emergency responses. DEMAC is currently working with five selected emergency-prone countries, while remaining prepared to support diaspora from additional countries in the event of a humanitarian crisis. The organization aims to enhance the knowledge and awareness of the nature and significance of diaspora, and to facilitate discussions on how the humanitarian system could and should relate to and coordinate with diaspora emergency actors. The study on diaspora humanitarian response in Pakistan highlights the importance of understanding the motivations and activities of diaspora organizations in responding to humanitarian crises. The study identifies gaps and challenges in diaspora humanitarian response, including a lack of transparency and accountability, and provides recommendations for future diaspora response and engagement in Pakistan. The study emphasizes the need for improved coordination and collaboration between diaspora organizations and formal humanitarian actors, and highlights the potential benefits of diaspora engagement in humanitarian responses, including increased relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability. DEMAC's work aims to support the development of a more inclusive and effective humanitarian system that recognizes the valuable contributions of diaspora organizations.