On June 11-13, 2012, the Government of Israel and the Jewish Distribution Council held its inaugural biannual conference on Diaspora-Homeland Partnerships in Jerusalem. Some 150 delegates from 40 countries participated in the conference. The conference spotlights policies and programs that have proven effective in mobilizing and engaging diasporas, as well as providing insights into the experience of Israel and other countries with their diasporas.
On the first day of the conference, SEDPI’s President and CEO, Mariel Vincent Rapisura and SEDPI’s adviser on migration and development, Leila Rispens-Noel presented the Leadership, Financial Literacy and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE) Program as a case study. The LSE was showcased as a program that have proven effective in promoting trust and accountability among migrants. LSE is a capacity building program that empowers Filipino migrants with leadership skills to be an agent of change and transformation; financial literacy knowledge and skills to improve economic well being; and social entrepreneurship to explore their options in changing their current livelihood. View the full case study here.
On the second day, SEDPI Group of Social Enterprises (SEDPI GSE) presented its experience and achievement in supporting Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and Social Enterprises (SEs) through financial literacy to and investment mobilization from migrants. SEDPI’s President emphasized in his presentation that capacity building is the main challenge and strategy in effectively harnessing the diaspora for development. Unfortunately, the government nor international development organizations, do not provide enough support for capacity building. SEDPI GSE’s core strategy is to build the capacity of migrants on financial literacy so that they are able to invest in socially responsible investment in the long run. This is coupled with technical and mentoring assistance to MFIs and SEs to strengthen them to effectively absorb investments to maximize social impact and financial sustainability. With these, SEDPI GSE’s total portfolio invested in MFIs and SEs reached PhP135 million (USD3 million) reaching at least 500,000 poor households in the Philippines. View presentation here.
Ekaterina Miroslavkaya, one of the conference participants, wrote in her email to SEDPI after the conference, “It is always very inspiring to meet outstanding personalities who strive for making a difference and who are professionals in what they are doing.” This statement encapsulates how SEDPI GSE has transformed into a highly professionalized institution in the course of eight years.