Diaspora Giving: An Agent of Change

Remittances to Vietnam have increased to US$6.8 billion per year, and while a majority of the recipients are relatives and friends, a small portion has extended beyond this group of recipients and can be considered philanthropic gifts.

Diaspora Giving: An Agent of Change in Asia Pacific Communities? Vietnam written by Truong Thi Kim Chuyen, Ivan Small, and Diep Vuong takes a close look at the profile of the Vietnamese diaspora, behaviors of diaspora philanthropy over the years, and issues that may increase the efficacy of the Vietnamese diaspora’s philanthropic objectives.

The majority of the Vietnamese diaspora is unique in its immigration experience due to the involuntary nature of displacement. As a result, philanthropic efforts by overseas Vietnamese initially focused on its own community of resettlement. Gradually, as overseas Vietnamese thrive in their communities, diaspora philanthropic efforts changed focus to provide immediate relief to those in Vietnam. With increased openness by the Vietnamese government to the world, diaspora philanthropy has become stronger and more strategic, providing both immediate reliefs as well as targeting more deeply-rooted causes of poverty. The aforementioned research report cites numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that currently bring various forms of relief to the Vietnamese people.

Strategies employed by diaspora philanthropy groups have improved but there remains many issues that, if addressed correctly and diligently, can greatly improve the flow of aid to the poor.  A simpler application process for groups in Vietnam to obtain its NGO status would allow more time spent on applying for funding and encouraging smaller groups to execute their ideas with fewer staff.  Future generations, who may not feel as strong a connection to Vietnam as prior generations, should be encouraged to obtain first-hand experience in the country. There should be mutual respect and recognition of efforts by overseas Vietnamese and the Vietnamese government, thereby fostering a spirit of collaboration. Finally, an accessible central knowledge base needs to be established, where donors and volunteers can exchange information with local partners, improve the parties’ understanding of each other, retain knowledge of best practices in the field, and promote a sense of ownership for each project.