Engaging diasporas in development

The Pilot Project Pakistan (PPP), launched in 2008, tested a model to support Norwegian-Pakistani organizations that did not meet standard Norad funding requirements. The project utilized a dual-resource structure with a secretariat in Norway (Development Fund and Norwegian Church Aid) and a resource organization in Pakistan (Sungi) to provide capacity building, project guidance, and monitoring. The review found that the PPP successfully increased the development impact of diaspora initiatives and fostered the inclusion of diaspora groups in Norwegian society. Key successes included the transition of some participants to regular Norad funding and the creation of networking synergies. However, challenges remained regarding the 50-50 funding ratio, the need for better needs-assessments for training, and the vulnerability of local partners to staff turnover. The report recommends establishing a long-term resource centre for diaspora organizations to provide ongoing competence building and coordination.

• The Pilot Project Pakistan (PPP) successfully supported Norwegian-Pakistani organizations that lacked the formal requirements for standard Norad funding, facilitating their development efforts and promoting their inclusion in Norwegian society.
• The PPP model's success was driven by a dual-support system involving a resource organization in Pakistan (Sungi) for local capacity building and monitoring, and a secretariat in Norway (Development Fund) for trust-building and guidance.
• Capacity building efforts led to tangible results, with two organizations (Rahma and Friends of the Mind) and one other (IHSG) successfully transitioning to regular Norad funding schemes.
• The project demonstrated that diaspora organizations bring unique value through their knowledge of local culture, language, and networks, though they often lack professional development experience.
• Networking and experience sharing among participating organizations were identified as some of the most valuable aspects of the pilot, creating synergies that were not initially anticipated.
• The review identified several structural and operational weaknesses, including a funding ratio (50-50) that is less favorable than that of typical Norwegian NGOs (90-10) and insufficient needs-assessments for training in Norway.
• Local partner organizations in Pakistan faced significant operational challenges, particularly high staff turnover, which increased their vulnerability and complicated reporting requirements.
• The report recommends the creation of a long-term resource centre for diaspora organizations, staffed by at least two people including a diaspora professional, to handle competence building and networking.

APA

Erdal, M. B., & Horst, C. (2010). Engaging diasporas in development. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/04a63422-5636-4b5c-8321-d6799879ca75/Pilot Project Pakistan Review.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Erdal, Marta Bivand, and Cindy Horst. Engaging diasporas in development. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2010. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/04a63422-5636-4b5c-8321-d6799879ca75/Pilot Project Pakistan Review.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Erdal |first1=Marta Bivand |last2=Horst |first2=Cindy |title=Engaging diasporas in development |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=June 2010 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/04a63422-5636-4b5c-8321-d6799879ca75/Pilot Project Pakistan Review.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{erdal2010engaging, author = {Erdal, Marta Bivand and Horst, Cindy}, title = {{Engaging diasporas in development}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2010}, month = jun, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/04a63422-5636-4b5c-8321-d6799879ca75/Pilot Project Pakistan Review.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }