Gap-filling at DFAIT by other actors?: citizens and civil society?

A few quick thoughts that came to mind as I read a recent article on the CIC website: http://opencanada.org/features/the-think-tank/essays/why-diplomacy-matters-more-than-ever/

If this is true: that HQ capacity for background and scenario notes and other items is decreasing; is there potential to fill this gap by capitalizing on other actors in society to produce some of these items?

There are limitations to this of course, mainly that other actors look through lenses that are very different than that which a government looks through, but is there a compromise to be made? 

If a shortage of money, or at least not a prioritization of the value-add of headquarters, will cause diplomats and diplomatic staff to have to spend more time in their office, then can some of these activities be off-loaded to university researchers, volunteer interns, etc. I'm sceptical that they would meet the same level of professionalism or do the items in the same way as would have been expected from the HQ, but it might help fill the gap.