TrustAfrica Diaspora Survey

TrustAfrica Diaspora Survey, December 2004

Introduction

TrustAfrica is seeking a consultant to help elaborate a strategy for collaboration between TrustAfrica and the African Diaspora. TrustAfrica is being established as an African grantmaking foundation supporting African solutions to the continent's most pressing challenges, including peace and conflict, regional integration, and citizenship and identity. TrustAfrica has been housed in the Ford Foundation since 2001 and will become independent and move to Africa in late 2005 or 2006. The Ford Foundation and other donors will provide initial funding for TrustAfrica's operations and its endowment. TrustAfrica will also raise additional funds from African sources to ensure it is self-sustaining, one of many actions TrustAfrica will undertake to ensure African ownership of its mandate.

It will be vital for TrustAfrica to build linkages with members of the Diaspora and tap into their commitment, knowledge, and resources. The Diaspora has provided crucial support for Africa's development for generations, playing important roles in virtually all of Africa's major struggles. Members of the Diaspora are often well organized, in-touch with realities on the continent, and committed to supporting Africa's development. In addition, members of the Diaspora represent an untapped potential in terms of resources - as a counter to negative impacts of the 'brain-drain' Africans abroad often have significant human and financial resources to commit to their communities and to the improvement of the continent as a whole. (While notions of African Diaspora can be expansive, for the purposes of this study it is thought to refer to those who have come to the US within one or two generations and maintain ties with the continent.)

Some African institutions have recognized the potential of the Diaspora and sought to bridge the gap. For example, the African Union has deemed the Diaspora the 6th region of Africa and provided for participation of members of the Diaspora in its activities. However, many members of the Diaspora are understandably reluctant to support large institutions, preferring to concentrate their efforts to help smaller causes with which they identify. TrustAfrica, which will embody the highest standards of transparency and good governance, seeks to overcome this distrust and actively solicit resources of the Diaspora to provide solutions for Africa's greatest challenges.

Proposed Objectives

The consultant should conduct research, interviews, and analysis and submit a report with the survey findings and specific recommendations for strategies TrustAfrica can pursue. The objectives of the report include:

* To provide TrustAfrica with an overview of the Diaspora community in the United States, and of its leading actors (organizations and professionals) committed to promoting Africa's development. o Leading actors to be surveyed include policy organizations, development organizations, professional associations, private corporations, key individuals, and others whose interests intersect with the program areas and philosophy of TrustAfrica. o The survey should include names and contact details, information about their activities, and other points of interest.

* To provide background information and analysis about African Diaspora philanthropy. o The report should provide an overview of what is known about patterns of philanthropic giving among the African Diaspora, including examples of who has given for what and why, as well as obstacles to charitable giving. o The report should also document the experiences of other African institutions that have sought to tap into the Diaspora, and should describe existing strategies, opportunities and challenges in raising funds from Diaspora. o The consultant may wish to discuss the experiences of other regions, especially Asia and Latin America where Diaspora philanthropy is more developed.

* To identify opportunities and make specific recommendations for TrustAfrica to partner with Diaspora. o Emphasis will be on the potential for resource development for TrustAfrica, primarily in terms of fundraising. o The report should also consider ways to take advantage of the human resources of the Diaspora and acknowledging the crucial role members of the Diaspora play in Africa's development. o The report should include names and contact of organizations or individuals who can help advise TrustAfrica in this regard, make contacts, and help organize fundraising events, etc.

At an early stage, the consultant should review these objectives with TrustAfrica staff and modify them if necessary.

Timeframe and budget The consultant will begin work in January 2005, and will submit a preliminary report in March 2005. The final report will be due by May 2005.

Budget: $8,000 for consultant fees and expenses.

Skills required The consultant will ideally have experience working with African Diaspora organizations, in the private sector, and in fundraising, and will be actively involved in the African development community. The consultant must have excellent research and writing skills.

Contact: Sara Rakita Program Consultant, TrustAfrica Ford Foundation 320 E. 43rd Street New York, NY 10017 1-212-573-4763 [email protected]