Enhance the Capacity of Afghan Diasporas for Effective Engagement in Policy Advocacy and Development Coopration

The engagement of diasporas in relief, development and peace building,  during the protracted conflicts is considered an important element and added value to the development cooperation and  often have been recognized as development actors in policy circles since the early 2000s (S.rensen, van Hear and Engberg-Pedersen 2002). According to DRC Mapping Report Sweden has the largest number of Afghan Diaspora Organizations (ADOs) in the focus countries and organizations are generally mixed in terms of age, gender, education level, size, and ethnicity. According to BRD mapping and DRC mapping data, total of 143 ADOs (96 registered) were identified in Sweden and most of them are accommodated in the cities: Malmo, Goteborg, Stockholm, Uppsala and Orebro. Where, 74% of Swedish ADOs are involved in integration and cultural activities. The low level of engagement in development cooperation, humanitarian work and effective Advocacy and Lobbying of ADOs in Sweden is notable compared  to other EU member states, which is due to lack of mechanism through which the efforts of Afghan diasporas mobilized and coordinated, the lack of vertical and horizontal linkages, both among the afghan diasporas, Swedish civil society and development cooperation, as well as the lack of  awareness on their role in advocacy, development cooperation and humanitarian work and the capacity of the ADOs in term of skills in conducting effective advocacy and lobbying, partnership building, communication,  organization development, project design and proposal development .

To address the identified needs and  building up on our  ongoing efforts, the overall aim of the action is ; to mobilize organize, enhance knowledge and skills and improve networking and partnership among Afghan Diasporas organizations enable them for effective and  active engagement  in development cooperation, humanitarian action, and  contribute toward building sustainable peace, capacity building for service delivery and socio-economic development of Afghanistan as well as  effective lobbying and policy advocacy on issues related to Afghanistan and for the rights of Afghan migrants and refugees in Sweden,   in collaboration with other key actors in Sweden and EU at large.