About the project

DIASPEACE (Diasporas and Peace. Patterns, Trends and Potential of Long-distance Diaspora Involvement in Conflict Settings. Case studies from the Horn of Africa) is a non-partisan, academic research project looking at the chances and challenges of diaspora involvement in countries of origin, particularly in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia.

The project seeks to expand knowledge on the role of diasporas and their contribution to peacebuilding. DIASPEACE is funded by the 7th Framework Research Programme of the European Commission.

Thanks to their unique position, diaspora groups possess rich knowledge, strong relationships and in-depth understanding regarding peacebuilding processes in their origin countries. In fact, many are already actively involved in such activities. Yet, it is rather difficult for European state actors – and even civil societies – to find ways of meaningfully engaging with these diasporas and identifying potential cooperation partners in their peacebuilding efforts.

Thus, DIASPEACE has three objectives: (1) to analyze diaspora engagement in their origin countries through case studies both in Europe and in the Horn of Africa; (2) to facilitate interaction between diaspora and other peacebuilding actors (e.g. international agencies, governments, NGOs), and (3) to develop recommendations for European actors on how to better engage diasporas in peacebuilding activities.

Participation

In order to broaden our knowledge of this complex research topic we ask you to kindly fill in this questionnaire. This has been designed to take no more than 10 minutes of your time. If there are any parts of the questionnaire that you feel you cannot answer, just leave them out. By filling out the questionnaire you will be giving an invaluable contribution to making this project a success. The whole team would like to thank you in advance for your time in this matter.

Click here to enter the questionaire.

Statement of confidentiality

We are acutely aware that we are doing research in a field that demands a particularly sensitive approach regarding privacy protection. We will ensure that the data we collect will remain anonymous and will only be used for research purposes. Unless we have your explicit permission to publish selected data which you agree is not sensitive, all information gathered in this research will be treated with utmost confidentiality, and will not be passed on to any third parties or released into the public domain without your express permission.

Please feel free to contact us should you have any further questions or comments:

Andrea Warnecke
Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC)
An der Elisabethkirche 25
53113 Bonn

Tel.: +49-228-911 96-70
Fax: +49-228-24 12 15
E-Mail: warnecke@bicc.de