Washington, DC - The International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA) is proud to kick off today the 2015 Global Diaspora Week (GDW), taking place October 11-17 and featuring over 90 events organized throughout the United States and around the world by diaspora-focused organizations and individuals.

GDW is a week dedicated to diaspora communities and their contributions to global development. It is intended to create awareness, enable collaboration, and enhance learning among those working on behalf of and with diaspora communities. GDW 2015 builds on the success of GDW 2014 and the Global Diaspora Forum, held in Washington in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Events throughout the week are all organized under the IdEA partnership, launched in 2011 by the Secretary’s Office of Global Partnerships (S/GP), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Calvert Foundation. The partnership aims to harness the resources of diaspora communities to promote sustainable development and diplomacy in their countries of heritage, supporting initiatives in areas like investment and entrepreneurship, philanthropy and volunteerism, and innovation.

The official GDW Launch Event is taking place at the U.S. Department of State on Friday, October 9. The one-day conference, under the theme “Partnering for Global Impact,” brings together leaders from the public, private, and civil society sectors to hear from diaspora leaders, build skills and organizational capacity, and network with similar organizations

For a full list of registered GDW events, visit the IdEA website: http://diasporaalliance.org/global-diaspora-week/