Summary:

Small currently in the context of global diaspora actions, the African diaspora in the U.S. already makes significantcontributionsto development in Africa and global experience portends a growing level of effort. The presentation will discuss the evolution of understanding regarding diasporacontributionsto development in their native countries and the continent as well astheirimpact on the actions of USG agencies. Six classes of interaction will be discussed with examples from the diaspora experience to date. Challenges to going to scale based on diasporacharacteristicswill conclude.

About the speaker:

Tim Resch, Bureau Environmental Advisor
Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development
tresch@usaid.gov
http://www.usaid.gov/where-we-work/africa
Tim Resch is, since 2005, Bureau Environmental Advisor for the USAID Bureau for Africa. His office works to strengthen critical links between biodiversity conservation, natural resources management, improved livelihoods and economic growth, and good governance throughout Africa. It provides leadership on African development issues through analysis, strategy development, program design, technical assistance, advocacy, and information dissemination.

For the previous five years, Tim had been the Manager of the East Asia and Pacific Environmental Initiative (EAPEI) of USAID Bureau for Asia and the Near East and the Department of State Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. He previously worked in USAID Bureau for Africa as Tropical Forestry and Biodiversity Advisor 1990-2000. He worked 1981-1990 with USDA Forest Service, Office of International Forestry as Program Coordinator for Africa and later as Program Coordinator for Food Aid and Voluntary Assistance supporting USAID programs worldwide. He was earlier Forest Management Program Staff Leader, South Dakota Division of Forestry and a Peace Corps Forester in Morocco 1970-74. Tim presently also serves as the President of Friends of Morocco, an organization of Americans, mostly returned Peace Corps volunteers (RPCVs), with experience in Morocco, Moroccan-American and Moroccans in America united with an interest in promoting educational, cultural, charitable, social, literary and scientific exchange between Morocco and the United States of America.