TDI – The Diaspora Initiative

Our Story

The Diaspora Initiative started as an academic collaboration, a space of exchange where we came up with ideas, step by step implementing them in the hope of forging a better, more informed understanding of diasporas, of reforming the institutional approach to diaspora engagement, and of generating opportunities for more impactful diaspora initiatives.

All our work has been pro bono, conducted on a voluntary basis and in the spirit of giving back. We are part of the diaspora ourselves. We experience physical distance like most Romanians do, nurturing similar hopes and aspirations, as well as a moral obligation to participate and contribute.

What We Do

Academic Research & Think Tank

Pioneering comprehensive, longitudinal mapping and social network analysis of diaspora communities and their global interactions. Developing interactive platforms for data visualisation.

Policy & Decision-Making

Providing strategic expertise for evidence-based decision-making, enhancing diaspora engagement policies and building institutional partnerships at national levels.

Civil Society & Consulting

Supporting diaspora organisations to maximise their capacity and encouraging participation in political and civic spheres for enhanced visibility and representation abroad.

Co-Founders

Catalina Maria Moisescu

Switzerland

Doctoral candidate at University of Fribourg in European studies and international relations. Since 2018, dedicated to researching migration, civil society, and good governance issues.

Andra-Lucia Martinescu

United Kingdom

Part-time doctorate at University of Cambridge in International Relations. Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre, previously with RUSI and RAND Europe.

Key Initiatives

Understanding Diasporas

Mapping Romanian communities globally using innovative network algorithms, with research applicable to other diasporas worldwide.

Fair Representation

Initiatives for democratic accountability, civic checks and balances, and policy change including electoral code reform.

Transnational Impact

Projects addressing diaspora mobilisation during crises, including response mechanisms during the Covid-19 pandemic and Ukraine relief efforts.

Get in Touch

We are scoping for partnerships. If you have an innovative proposal or ongoing project, we welcome collaboration with academics, researchers, NGOs, diaspora associations, and institutions.

Catalina Maria Moisescu Research & Strategy

Andra-Lucia Martinescu Partnerships & Policy

A space for academic collaboration, independent of hierarchies and organisational constraints, forging a better understanding of diasporas through research, mapping, and civic engagement.