​Public Seminar | Diaspora & Alternative Development in the Philippines

This presentation examines the work of Gawad Kalinga (GK) in the Philippines in the context of diaspora-driven development strategies. GK has its roots as the social ministry of a Catholic lay organization that started by provided housing and youth programs for the urban poor, but has moved towards a more secular model of social entrepreneurship. Raising funds from diverse sources, including significant amounts from the Filipino diaspora, GK is a key promoter of alternative economic practices. Questions arise, however, concerning the role of private organizations like GK in the execution of state responsibilities such as social housing, the subjectivities that are created and populated in this model of development, and the disciplinary dimensions of selecting and socializing beneficiaries. More broadly, this case speaks to the promises and pitfalls of diaspora-driven development visions and transnationally-scaled alternative economic practices.