Lessons from education, climate finance, and scientific collaboration
The Philippines illustrates how overseas expertise connects with domestic institutions through climate education, project preparation, and scientific collaboration. These connections matter because local climate action requires people and organizations equipped to plan, secure resources, and sustain implementation.
For DCI, the experience highlights the policies, institutions, and partnerships supporting diaspora participation in climate action.
Palawan: Connecting Diaspora Expertise with Local Institutions
From October 2022 to August 2023, the EU Global Diaspora Facility (EUDiF) worked with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff and Palawan State University on environmental sustainability and climate adaptation.
Three Filipina diaspora professionals contributed complementary expertise: Denise Margaret Matias in education for sustainable development, Julie Amoroso Garbin in climate finance, and Lovelaine Basillote in project management.
Philippine embassies in Germany and France helped identify the specialists. The partnership combined virtual collaboration with on-site activities, connecting overseas expertise with local government and university priorities.
Building Climate Knowledge and Implementation Skills
Education for sustainable development
The partnership developed a university curriculum and trained teachers to deliver the material. A five-day pilot involved 25 students, supported by trained educators. This connected diaspora expertise with teaching capacity inside a local institution.
Climate finance preparedness
Local government and Palawan Council staff received training on climate risks, funding opportunities, and proposal development. EUDiF reports participation by more than 40 local government representatives in climate adaptation finance training.
Project management
Further training covered project planning, implementation, and monitoring. These skills support the work required after a proposal is prepared, including organizing delivery and assessing progress.
Diaspora Science and Local Research Capacity
Scientific collaboration provides another example. A 2019 DOST-PCAARRD report describes Balik Scientist Guillermo A. Mendoza’s work with Mariano Marcos State University on climate resilience.
The engagement included training in watershed hydrologic modeling and assessing suitable locations for small farm reservoirs and other water infrastructure. The report also describes earlier collaboration with Balik Scientists on climate information systems for agriculture, forestry, and natural resources.
National Climate Priorities and Local Capability
The Philippines’ National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050 guides action on current and future climate risks through science-based priorities and coordination across government and society.
DCI interprets the local examples as evidence of the institutional connections needed to support such priorities. Overseas expertise needs domestic partners with defined responsibilities, staff time, and resources to apply the knowledge.
Lessons for Diaspora Climate Readiness
These experiences inform questions across the five areas assessed through DCRI.
Climate strategy and policy. Identify where diaspora expertise supports national and local climate priorities. Set clear objectives for each partnership and define the responsibilities of participating institutions.
Climate expertise networks. Maintain relationships with specialists in climate science, education, engineering, finance, and project delivery. Match expertise with needs identified by domestic partners.
Dedicated coordination. Give local and overseas participants a consistent point of contact. Coordinate recruitment, work plans, communication, and follow-up across the institutions involved.
University and research collaboration. Build partnerships supporting teaching, joint research, technical training, and continued professional exchange. Strengthen the capacity of permanent local staff.
Documented climate initiatives. Record activities, resources, institutional changes, and results. Assess whether partnerships continue beyond an initial visit or training period.
From Training to Climate Outcomes
Curricula, workshops, and technical advice are observable contributions. Longer-term assessment should examine whether institutions apply the knowledge, prepare stronger projects, secure appropriate resources, and maintain implementation.
Education partnerships should track continued use of materials and learning outcomes. Technical partnerships should assess adoption of methods and improvements in planning or service performance.
Claims about reduced climate vulnerability require evidence tied to specific hazards, communities, and interventions. Training participation alone does not establish those results.
Why This Case Matters
The Philippines offers examples of diaspora climate engagement through local institutions, supported by international partnerships and national scientific programs.
For countries developing diaspora readiness, the lesson is to create clear participation routes and strengthen the institutions receiving overseas expertise. Sustained climate action depends on local capability, accountable coordination, and resources for implementation.
Explore DCI’s Climate Work
Explore the Diaspora Climate Readiness Index
Sources and Further Reading
EU Global Diaspora Facility. A Multi-Level Partnership in the Philippines for Environmental Sustainability and Climate Adaptation, September 2023.
EU Global Diaspora Facility. Knowledge Transfer on Environmental Sustainability and Climate Adaptation from the Filipino Diaspora.
Department of Science and Technology, PCAARRD. MMSU Lauds Balik Scientist Interventions on University’s Climate Change Resiliency Program, June 2019.
Government of the Philippines. National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050.