Engaging The Indian Diaspora in International Development
 
 
As part of implementing the recommendations issued to President Obama by the Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, USAID and HASC hosted a workshop for the diverse Indian American community. The enhanced focus on Diaspora engagement also coincided with the U.S. - India Strategic dialogues. The workshop provided an overview of USAID development work in India , focusing on health, food security and energy and environment. It also discussed ways to work with USAID by registering as Personal Voluntary Organization (PVO) and developing partners. About 30 – 40 HASC partners representing secular and faith based organizations attended this workshop.
The Administration, in a short time, is implementing many of the Council’s recommendations. The Building Partnerships: An Indian-American Capacity Building Workshop with Erin Soto, Mission Director to India USAID is a pilot. USAID expects to host workshops with other Diasporas.
The workshop gave an overview of USAID in India, focusing on Health, Food Security and Energy and Environment. It also covered ways to work with USAID, registering the organization and developing partners. Care, an active NGO in India, shared how they partner with other NGOs. A few India-American organizations, of diverse faiths, have applied for grants in the past. About 30 – 40 HASC partners representing secular and faith based organizations attended this workshop.
“The in-depth discussions with the various speakers, as well as with the USAID Mission Director, gave us, the Indian American community, an insight into USAID's India development process”, observed Anju Bhargava, Founder-Convener of Hindu American Seva Charities.
Hindu American Seva Charities will continue to seek ways to assist the partners develop their capacity and work with USAID. HASC hopes this will leverage the talent of our Diaspora and strengthen America's strategic interests globally.