Designing a Diaspora Civic Duty Program

Motivation

Over the past decades—and especially during the financial crisis—hundreds of thousands of Greeks built their lives abroad. Many did so not out of choice, but necessity. As a result, a significant share of Greeks of military age do not serve, not because they lack a sense of duty, but because their education, work, and families are rooted outside Greece. This project starts from a simple premise: service should strengthen the bond between citizens and the homeland, not weaken it. The Diaspora Civic Duty Program reimagines national service as a modern form of contribution—one that allows Greeks abroad to serve the country meaningfully, wherever they live, by placing their skills and experience at the service of national needs.

Diaspora Civic Duty Program

Eligibility

The Diaspora Civic Duty Program applies exclusively to Greeks abroad who would qualify for exemption under the existing framework. It offers a structured alternative to non-service, aiming to replace permanent disengagement with meaningful civic contribution and sustained ties to the Greek state.

Service Structure

The Diaspora Civic Duty Program consists of two distinct phases:

• Basic Training (20 days), conducted in Greece and completed within two (2) years from entry into the program.

• Civic Service (520 hours), completed either remotely or in cooperation with Greek public bodies in Greece or with consular and diplomatic authorities abroad. The required hours must be completed within eighteen (18) months, either in concentrated blocks or gradually.

This structure preserves the integrity of national service while remaining compatible with life and work abroad.

Forms of Civic Service

(1) High-Specialization Service (Ministry of National Defence)
Project-based service supporting defence technology, cybersecurity, research, and strategic or technical advisory work under a dedicated cooperation and IP framework.

(2) Service at Consulates, Embassies, and Consular Authorities
Service supporting diplomatic and consular operations abroad, community engagement, cultural and educational initiatives, and economic or public diplomacy.

(3) Remote Civic Service with Public Bodies
Fully remote, project-driven service with public institutions in areas such as health, education, digital governance, and climate resilience.

Assignment Process

Applicants rank their preferred service options during application. Final placement reflects qualifications and institutional needs, with the Ministry of National Defence holding first priority for high-specialization placements.

Implementation Process

The program would operate through a dedicated digital platform, CivicDuty.gr, developed under the supervision of the Ministry of National Defence in cooperation with the Ministries of Interior, Digital Governance, and Foreign Affairs, ensuring transparency, coordination, and efficient service delivery.

Why This Matters

The Diaspora Civic Duty Program is designed not only as a policy solution, but as a way to redefine service in a global era and strengthen the relationship between Greece and its citizens abroad.

• Reinforces national bonds: Strengthens long-term ties between the Greek state and its diaspora while reinforcing a shared sense of national identity.

• Enables meaningful contribution: Allows highly skilled Greeks abroad to serve in a productive, outcome-oriented way aligned with national needs.

• Builds diaspora community: Creates a sense of common purpose among Greeks of diverse backgrounds living abroad, beyond geography.

• Removes barriers to return: Modernizes service obligations by eliminating a key structural obstacle to deeper re-engagement with Greece.