Diaspora Mapping
Your people are scattered but not lost. Map where they are to coordinate across distance.
Pressure addressed: displacement, cultural, economic
Time: Ongoing mapping and updating
People: Diaspora members across multiple locations
Resources: Research capacity, database, communication across locations
About this tool
Diaspora communities are powerful but dispersed. Cousins in five countries. Community members in twenty cities. Skills, resources, and capacity spread across geography that makes coordination difficult. Diaspora mapping creates a picture of where your people are. Not just locations, skills, resources, connections, capacity.
How to do it
Define scope
Which diaspora population? What information matters? Geographic scope? Be clear about boundaries.
Build trust across locations
People share information when they trust the collector. Diaspora trust networks matter.
Collect systematically
Consistent categories across locations. Skills, resources, capacity, connections. Updatable over time.
Secure the data
Diaspora mapping data is sensitive. Who has access? How is it protected? Security is non-negotiable.
Use for coordination
Data enables action. Connect people. Mobilise resources. Coordinate campaigns across borders.
Before you start
- Trust networks across diaspora
- Secure data infrastructure
- Cross-border communication capacity
Implementation guidance
Starting point
- Comprehensive mapping across key diaspora locations
- Regularly updated information
- High-security data protection
- Active use for coordination and resource mobilisation
- Trust maintained with those who shared information
- Clear protocols for data access and use
Building on it
- Partial mapping of key locations
- Basic security measures
- Some coordination enabled
Advanced practice
- Incomplete data that gives false picture
- Inadequate security for sensitive information
- Data collected but not used for coordination
Incomplete mapping can miss critical resources or give false confidence about capacity. Inadequately secured diaspora data is a targeting gift, names, locations, and connections of people who may be vulnerable. Data collected without use wastes trust and contributor effort.
Examples
Various diaspora communities
Mapping diaspora populations to enable coordinated action
Cross-border advocacy campaigns, resource mobilisation, mutual support networks