Private Sector Led Development – Caribbean Diaspora Network Governance Model

It’s Global Entrepreneurship Week 2021 and we would love to hear your thoughts on the proposed diaspora private sector led development governance model for Jamaica and the Caribbean at home and in the diaspora.

Jamaican and Caribbean diasporans are committed to playing their role in the development of their home and host countries. However, they have not been effective in leveraging available resources for developing their communities in diasporic markets or in tapping available funding for contributing to the development of their home countries.

The United States of America is one rich example of a diasporic market in which significant funding for community development remains largely untouched by the community. A look at related policy implementation reports will confirm that Caribbean countries have drawn on much of the available resources but diaspora communities have scarcely touched the monies available to them.

The situation represents a complex developmental challenge which requires interventions for diaspora development as much as there is the need for diaspora led development initiatives for home countries. It is one in which the community suffers from scarce resources in the presence of abundant resources, capacity gaps, and community data and intelligence gaps. It is also one in which the failure of diasporans to appraise themselves of government, private sector and third sector priorities and initiatives have led to more discussions than real actions for driving growth and development (in both home and host countries).

So, let us celebrate #GEW2021 like only entrepreneurs know how—working on driving development.

It is true that many diasporans have done well for themselves but even more including our small businesses struggle. Though technology has allowed the community to become more connected there is little that the community can offer its newcomers, more seasoned and foreign-born members looking for jobs or trying to grow their businesses compared to other groups.

As diaspora entrepreneurs we have a significant role to play in helping to eradicate the large pockets of  underdeveloped communities made up of Jamaican and Caribbean diasporans in developed countries. Our communities suffer poverty, crime, health, nutritional, environmental and educational challenges among others faced by our beloved home countries. In fact, we often export and import such challenges between host and home countries. It is therefore urgent that the issue of diaspora development be addressed in tandem with development of home countries. Too many diasporans live in the underdeveloped bubble of poverty in developed countries; and among them are highly educated immigrants and foreign born diasporans.

While the Jamaican and Caribbean diaspora contribute significantly to the economies of their home countries much more can be done. At times the community’s effort to do more is frustrated by lack of engagement by home country government departments. Both diasporans and governments are to be blamed for this challenge. Often diaspora businesses lack track record and local implementing partners to win government contracts and at other times “favouritism”, corruption, competition, and rules of procurement are to be blamed,

Issues related to trust, intellectual dishonesty, and the failure to practice collaboration and cooperation contribute to our struggles to develop at home and abroad.

Given, the challenge of developing both diaspora and home communities Meegan Scott and Magate Wildhorse have proposed the private sector led Jamaican and Caribbean Diaspora Network Governance Model for Environment, Climate and Economic Development.

Click the image above to enlarge image.

The core-periphery network governance mode for the community was developed in 2019, re-illustrated in 2020 and first shared with audiences in May 2020 at the Outride: COVID 19 Business Threat Seminar on Governance Model and Livelihood Protection and later at the BIDEM: Caribbean International Diaspora Entrepreneurs’ Conference and Trade Show held virtually in Toronto, 2020.

It proposes the use of a core coordinating organization that comprises diaspora and international partners (in diaspora and home countries), working groups, communities of practice, think tank, social media, academia, faith-based groups, environmental organizations, NGOs, private sector, tourism, youth, women and vulnerable groups and the ethnic media.

It involves market systems development, research, evaluation and sustainable financing.  The thematic areas of focus are in alignment with host and home country sustainable development goals and their obligations under local Agenda 2030, diaspora and home country unique ambitions and global obligations related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  The model includes working groups and communities of practice for:

  • Trade and Entrepreneurship
  •  Security
  • Critical Infrastructure
  •  A Centre for Excellence in Education and Training
  •  Urban Planning, Construction and Land Use
  • Youth, Women and Vulnerable Groups
  • Ocean Health and Economy
  • Agriculture, Agricultural Outsourcing and Agri-business
  • Health
  • Energy and Transport
  • Travel, Hospitality and Tourism
  • Financial Industry; and the
  • Orange Economy

The think tank has responsibility for home and diaspora related research and publication, dialogue, capacity building, advocacy and information dissemination, policy guidance and consulting on health, nutrition, climate finance, economies, labour market segments, technology, trade, inclusive and equitable education.  The proposed working groups are detailed in illustration 2 below.

Click the image above to enlarge image.

The proposed structure will allow for more diasporans to deliver development solutions for profit or revenue, grow and strengthen diaspora and home country entrepreneurs and service providers as development partners in host and home country markets. Moreover, the model recognizes that organizations are limited by the scope of their missions and capabilities, that many individuals have shared and differing visions and missions. As such all will know they have a right and a responsibility to contribute to development without negative competition and the feeling that only selected individuals and organizations can lead and deliver development solutions.

In addition, the proposed local and international partnerships will better position diaspora entities to access monies available to them to deliver solutions in partnership with Jamaican and Caribbean based non-profits, private sector, government, development and or academic partners.

This Global Entrepreneurship Week we invite you to read this piece, review the illustrations and contact us with your comments and contributions. We feel confident that a private sector led model which creates decent jobs, take care of our people and planet at home and in the diaspora is the way to go. Do you?

Share your thoughts on social media or by email at: magate.wildhorse@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2021 by Meegan Scott and Magate Wildhorse.  All rights reserved.

Views on News — Free Newsmaker Opportunity !

VIEWS on News Flyer

It’s Global Entrepreneurship Week, that means Views on News is back!

Share your views and become a newsmaker.

You and your business that is!

Deadline: Monday, November 15, at 6:00 PM | Toronto, EST

Each year we partner with The Caribbean Camera to bring you this opportunity to share and promote your business during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

This year we present you with one radio and four opportunities for gettng published.

Seize this opportunity to represent your brand.

Who can submit?

  • Entrepreneurs with Caribbean Roots worldwide
  • Canadian entrepeneurs with our without Caribbean roots
  • Entrepreneurs without Caribbean roots but who want to do business with them
  • One lucky entrepreneur from anywhere in the world with no North American or Caribbean roots. Say hello Canada, have a chill to COVID-19.

Publication date  – Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020

How to participate:

Context

One hundred and eighty countries, including Canada, several in the Caribbean and its diasporic markets are celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2020. #Ecosystems and #Policy are among the themes of GEW 2020.  Ecosystems focuses on building connected and thriving entrepreneur communities.  Policy aims to recognize the work of government in helping entrepreneurs “start and scale”. It has been concluded that even with a COVID-19 vaccine the pandemic will be far from contained for 2021.  Therefore we cannot rely on economic forecasts for informing business decision making.

Question:

To what extent do you believe entrepreneurship can still deliver self-actualization and financial independence for SMEs in this era of COVID-19?

SMEs, small, medium-sized and micro-enterprises.

Instructions:

Thank you for submitting your response in 100- 150 words for Views on News. Eighty words will be fine but not more than 150.

Include your name, the name of your business, city and the country where your business is located.

Please include a headshot photo or portrait with attitude that is not cluttered (There may be nice background image but you, your face should be visible.

Type or copy and paste “Views on News Entry” in the subject line.

 

Submit your entry 

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I know some of you have been anxiously awaiting your question, six will be featured in Views on News in The Caribbean Camera.

A treasure hunt on Magate Wildhorse blog or LinkedIn page will lead you to the other media opportunities.

#IAmAnEntrepreneur

Conditions:

Each entrepreneur is limited to a maximum of two print and a radio opportunity only.

Depending on uptake you might be restricted to one during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Copyright © 2020 by Meegan Scott, Magate Wildhorse Ltd .(Toronto), Magate Wildhorse Inc.,(New York). All rights reserved.

 

Fireside Chat — Blinkers Off MSME

Blinkersoff Event image attitude.v.

#Attitude!

A Conversation on Resilience Skills and Behaviours for Caribbean Entrepreneurs in domestic and diasporic markets.

Be with us when we celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020 (GEW2020).

This year GEW will be celebrate November 16-22, 2020.

“On April 6, 2017, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing the crucial role Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) play in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution (A/71/279) designates June 27 as “Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day”. With support from ICSB, the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the UN authored the resolution that was presented to and negotiated with all UN member states.
The resolution was co-sponsored by 54 member states, representing over 5 billion people”.
As part of celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020  we will host
a Conversation on Resilience Skills and Behaviours for Caribbean and diaspora entrepreneurs.

Tuesday, November 17, 2020  | 7:30 – 8:50 PM

Registration Form (click the preceding word).

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Event Facilitator: Meegan Scott

GEW_CANADA offical

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2020 by Meegan Scott,  Magate Wildhorse Ltd .(Toronto), Magate Wildhorse Inc.,(New York).  All rights reserved.

Strategy Planning and Evaluation for Disability Programming — Workshop

Strategy and EVALUATION GEW PT 1

Saturday, November 21, 2020   Time: 10:00 AM EST | Toronto

Join us for Parts  I & II in this workshop series.

Part I maybe taken as a stand-alone capacity building session.

It is a pre-requisite for taking Part II, which focuses on practical application of learnings from Part I.

The dialogue and workshop series is grounded in risk intelligence, robust strategy planning, influential evaluations and experiential learning.

  • Because evidence matters.
  • Because relevance matters.
  • Because local context and community issues matters.

About Meegan Scott , workshop facilitator.

A Global Entrepreneurship Week Special!

Strategy and Evaluation Workshop GEW PT II

Sunday, November 22, 2020  Time: 5:00-6:20 PM  EST  | Toronto

#unmissable  #limitedspaces

Register at: https://forms.gle/Qzc1uWrowbos5zwC8click words colour hand

A limited number of  scholarships will be available to developing country participations.

Selection will be based on assessment in registration form.