Funding constraints and growing crises are putting more strain on the humanitarian sector, highlighting the need for innovative, community-driven solutions. DEMAC – Diaspora Emergency Action & Coordination, a global initiative under the Danish Refugee Council, has led the way in documenting and promoting diaspora humanitarian action over the past ten years. It has shown how diaspora actors mobilize resources, establish partnerships, and offer direct support to local communities. Prominent examples include Ukrainian diaspora organizations raising USD 283 million in the conflict’s first year and Somali networks mobilizing USD 689,000 within a week of severe floods in 2023.

This session will highlight global diasporas’ unique role in bridging humanitarian gaps, explore the successes and barriers of including diaspora in institutional coordination structures, and look ahead to the future of diaspora humanitarianism. Panelists from diaspora organizations and institutional partners will share perspectives on how diaspora roles have changed in the past decade and may evolve in the next 10 years, and how DEMAC and others can best support their continued impact.