JAMAICA DIASPORA CONNECT WEB PORTAL

http://www.jamaicadiasporaconnect.com

 "JamaicaDiasporaConnect Web Portal - An electronic Knowledge Network for Connecting Jamaica and its Diaspora".     

Over the last five years, the government of Jamaica has given increased and focused attention to the diaspora with the aim of strengthening the relationship between members of the diaspora and Jamaica. Responsibility for diaspora affairs rests with the Diaspora and Consular Affairs Department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

The government’s interest in the diaspora has directly resulted in:

• Three major Diaspora Conferences involving over 600 Diaspora members from the UK, USA and Canada, held in Jamaica in 2004, 2006 and 2008;
• The establishment of a Jamaica Diaspora Foundation whose role to facilitate and increase the scope and impact of the contribution of the Diaspora to the development of Jamaica includes
  1. serving as liaison between diaspora communities and the Government, the private sector and community based organisations in Jamaica;
  2. conducting research and serving as a central repository and clearing house for research and data relating to the Jamaican and Caribbean diaspora;
  3.  providing independent views and recommendations for government policies relating to the diaspora;
• The establishment of the Jamaica Diaspora Institute as the operating arm of the Jamaica Diaspora Foundation;
• The establishment of a Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board with representatives from the diaspora in the UK, Canada and the U.S.A to serve as an advisory body to the Minister with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs; and
• The establishment of a Joint Select Committee of the Houses of Parliament on Diaspora Affairs.

Jamaican Diaspora UK
The Jamaican Diaspora UK was established to: “promote, develop awareness and conduct activities that impact on the lives of persons in Jamaica and people of Jamaican heritage (UK) through education, social, cultural, economic, and civic activities without distinction, to increase the capacity and capabilities of members so that they are able to identify, and help meet their needs to contribute and participate more fully in the development of the said communities for public benefit.” Currently there are two Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board Members and a team of *** voluntary Regional Coordinators. Contact details for these personnel are given in the appendices

Jamaica Diaspora Institute

• To undertake activities to strengthen people networks in the Diaspora Communities.
• To conduct research and serve as a central repository and clearing-house for data related to the Diaspora:

1. Build and maintain a comprehensive database of Jamaicans abroad
2. Research the needs, opportunities, issues and challenges facing the Diaspora
3. Provide answers to questions of affinity with Jamaicans abroad which will inform policy interventions

• To organise and host conferences (biennial), symposia and roundtables on topics of relevance to the Jamaican Diaspora.
• To host meetings of the Diaspora Foundation
• To work with tertiary institutions in Jamaica for collaborative research on the Diaspora.

Kajaans Women’s Enterprise Limited
Kajans Women's Enterprise is a community-based arts organization that work with artists, children and adults primarily through arts education and performance. KAJANS is the UK Partner institution for the EC-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative Project: Knowledge Networks for Connecting Jamaica and Its Diaspora