P2P has worked diligently from its inception to mobilize the global Ethiopian diaspora and to make connections whenever possible, bringing together like-minded and ambitious people who seek to make a difference. In 2008 the organization received a grant from the World Bank to build an Ethiopian diaspora physicians database, which now has more than 300 members.
Annual Global Diaspora Conference
Since 2009 P2P has held an annual Global Diaspora Conference on Health Care and Medical Education in Washington, DC. During each of those conferences, several hundred diaspora physicians, healthcare professionals, and health and medical educators have attended and engaged in valuable exchanges. High-level professionals and government representatives from Ethiopia, including the Minister of Health, Deans of various Medical Schools, the President of Ethiopian Medical Association, and other distinguished guests have been amongst those present at the meetings. These annual conference serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas, knowledge, resources, skills, and motivation to improve healthcare and education in Ethiopia, to expand crucial social services for vulnerable communities, to help the country achieve some of its most important development goals, and to broaden and strengthen the role of the diaspora in the entire process.
For a summary of our previous Global Diaspora Conferences on Health Care and Medical Education, please use the following links:
- 2011 Global Diaspora Conference summary
The 4th Annual Global Diaspora Conference on Health Care and Medical Education is scheduled for September 2012. Details to be announced shortly!
Ethiopian Diaspora Health and Education Professionals Mobilization Project
Following a one-day diaspora professionals’ consultation workshop on the implementation of a diaspora health and education professionals mobilization project held at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC on May 7, 2011, People to People took the lead role in coordinating the activities of a number of diaspora-based organizations with regard to engaging with Ethiopian institutions for health systems strengthening activities, particularly through virtual delivery of health, medical, and education services. This project is a collaboration between the World Bank, the Italian Government, a network of diaspora professional groups, and People to People.
Office of Global Partnerships, U.S. State Department
The U.S. Secretary of State’s Office of Global Partnerships, in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), organized an action-oriented Global Diaspora 3-day forum in 2011 to recognize and celebrate the contribution of diaspora communities to America’s relationship with their countries of origin or ancestry; to foster diaspora-centric partnership models; and to encourage intra-diaspora collaboration and learning. P2P representatives attended and participated in this important forum, giving a voice to the Ethiopian diaspora, and recognizing the efforts of the US government to engage with diaspora populations for achieving meaningful development work.