19 October 2021
On 11-12 October 2021, as part of EUDiF’s Capacity Development Lab initiative to support AGBU Business Mentors Programme, 8 staff members of AGBU Armenia and Europe took part in online sessions on diaspora mentorship, including monitoring and evaluation tools.
The first day focused on the global approaches of diaspora mentorship programmes. The session started with the opening remarks and brief presentation of EUDiF diaspora mentoring initiatives in the African context by Mrs. Diana Hincu, Capacity Development Specialist at EUDiF.
Mrs Maya Gedde (Mowgli Mentorship) provided participants with further input on effective mentoring programmes for entrepreneurs and leaders, touching upon the methodology, monitoring and evaluation tools. She emphasized the importance of recruitment and the ways to make sure the right mentors are selected. Gedde’s presentation covered essentially the monitoring and evaluation processes of diaspora mentorship sessions. She recommended the selection of qualitative questions for the evaluation and the importance of following up on the feedback collection through regular calls, check-ins, focus groups and even questionnaires to be completed 2-3 years after the event in order to measure the long-term impact. Gedde also noted the added value of organizing mentor peer calls to allow mentors to share their experiences and learn from each other.
In the second part of the session, Mr. Asier Ansorena, Diaspora Network Leader at Ashoka, presented Ashoka’s experience with Changemakers Everywhere Academy and spoke about diaspora engagement in social entrepreneurship both at individual level and at group/state level. Talking about the quality of mentoring support, he shared Ashoka’s 4 criteria of diaspora engagement which include commitment to impact, level of connection with diaspora community, and ability to mobilize and inspire others.
Moving from the global to local practices on diaspora mentorship in entrepreneurship, Mr. Nazareth Seferian (Business, CSR and Social Entrepreneurship Professional) shared his own experience in promoting sustainable business in Armenia, as a repat from Canada since 1998. Considering the decrease of donor-funded organizations in Armenia, he stressed the growing importance of social enterprises and corporate social responsibility. Describing his experience in mentorship programmes in Armenia, Seferian stressed the importance for mentors to take into account the local contexts and the different mindsets in Armenia, especially in rural areas. In order to reach their business goals, Seferian explained that mentees “need to be convinced that they are not limited to what they are but that they have the capacity to grow, always. Basically to make them understand that there is value in failing.”.
