The purpose of the seminar was to facilitate the inclusion of the diaspora voices and visions in European policy deliberations in this growing policy field in a more targeted and systematic manner. The seminar explored the added value and options for strategic partnerships between the diaspora and other stakeholders in the field of migration and development.
The first day of the seminar was devoted to exchanging views in order to identify key policy actions through which the considerable development potential of the diaspora can be maximized. Some of the key recommendations of the day were:
• Creating or facilitating job creation in Africa by using skills, transnational links, financial, social and political capital of the diaspora, as it will add value to the efforts undertaken in this sector
• EU leveraging the country specific best practices and up-scaling them to an EU level
• Developing a Migration and Development Fund
• Support for the Diaspora who are seeking employment opportunities in Africa, by appropriately matching skills and providing practical support, where this is required
• Policy coherence within the EU and between EU and Africa
• Develop methodology and strategy for institutions to use as guidelines by which they select Diaspora representation for Diaspora-institutional engagement
The second day focused on showcasing and making known to a wider policy constituency the successes achieved with concrete development related activities initiated by diaspora organizations in their respective homelands and the specific factors that have contributed to their positive outcomes. Some key recommendations of the day were:
• Diaspora engagement in job creation projects that will become sustainable.
• Research on the various types of Diaspora, creating an action framework to facilitate progress and delivery
• Create an African Diaspora Business Roundtable – a think thank to join existing networks in EU. A form of links for the Diaspora to enable and facilitate incentives for the Diaspora
• Creation of a Diaspora Council focusing on peace and stability
• Strategy for Diaspora networking such as regular intra-diaspora dialogue, twinning and network
• Foster partnership between the Diaspora and the private sector
• Policies to harness remittances as a key component of development
• Diaspora used as a means through which to sensitize the African Youth on the negative aspects of migration
Exclusive Radio Netherlands Interview:
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