About DiPS Governance
As of 2025, the DiPS project is undergoing a strategic transition. Following 15 years of support to both Afghan and Somali diaspora-led initiatives, DiPS will now exclusively fund diaspora-led projects in Somalia. Furthermore, from 2026 onward, the DiPS funding mechanism will be administered by the DRC country office in Somalia. This means that the governance structure from 2026 onwards in under review. The 2025 call is the final call managed by the Copenhagen-based team in close consultation with the current Somali Advisory Board.
For more information about these updates and the transition, please click here.
DiPS Team
The DiPS team is responsible for the implementation, daily management, and decision-making related to DiPS. During the assessment of applications, the team is responsible for the initial review and scoring of the applications. The draft scores take into account the input given by the Advisory Board and CISU at the assessment meetings and are later changed or approved by the Executive Committee (ExComm).
Advisory Board
For the 2025 call, the DiPS Advisory Board will include the Somali Advisory Board composed of five elected members. These members were elected during the DiPS Annual Grand Meeting in November 2023 for a two-year term and continue to serve in a consultative capacity.
The primary role of the Advisory Board is to provide feedback and recommendations on applications submitted to the DiPS funding mechanism. This includes reviewing all eligible concept notes and contributing to the assessment process by offering insights that enhance transparency and ensure diaspora perspectives are incorporated. As part of the application review process, the Advisory Board:
- Reviews and comments on all applications based on assessment criteria;
- Participates in Q&A sessions with shortlisted applicants;
- Attends the final scoring meeting between the DiPS team and the Executive Committee as observers.
While the Advisory Board contributes consultative input, the final decision on which applications proceed to the project development phase rests with the DiPS Executive Committee (ExComm).
Looking ahead, the governance structure of DiPS is currently under review in light of the project’s transition to the Somalia Country Office from 2026. The role and setup of the Advisory Board may be revised accordingly to ensure alignment with the new management structure and operational context.
We will share updates as soon as further details are available. To stay informed, please subscribe to our newsletter by emailing: [email protected].
CISU (Civilsamfund i Udvikling) Representative
CISU is a Danish association made up of 270+ member organizations engaged in international development work. An advisor from CISU`s civil society funding mechanism participates in the Advisory Board assessment meetings and provides input based on their expertise in Danish and international civil society engagement and development aid.
Executive Commitee
The DiPS Executive Committee (ExComm) is responsible for reviewing, adjusting, and approving the scoring of applications submitted to the DiPS funding mechanism. The ExComm holds the final decision-making authority on which applications move forward to the project development phase.
The committee now includes the management from DRC’s Somalia Country Office and the Diaspora Programme, ensuring closer alignment with project implementation and the context. Members bring extensive experience in diaspora engagement and humanitarian and development programming in Somalia.
In addition to scoring and selection, the ExComm may also provide strategic input on assessment criteria, DiPS processes, and project-specific matters when relevant.
