$5,2m availed for 8 African countries migration project

THE International Organisation for Migration (IOM), African Development Bank (AfDB), and African Union Commission (AUC), have started implementing a US$5,2 million project to strengthen investment, human capital and philanthropic engagement from the diaspora in eight African countries including Zimbabwe.

This follows the signing of a protocol agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in December last year to support the ”Streamlining Diaspora Engagement to Catalyse Private Investments and Entrepreneurship for Enhanced Resilience” (SDE4R) project.

The target countries are Zimbabwe, The Gambia, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan and Togo.
AfDB approved the SDE4R project on July 4, last year, with funding from its Transition Support Facility (TSF).

Under the initiative, IOM will implement the project over three years with strategic oversight, guidance and advisory from the AUC.

It is understood that this is a concrete example of a Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus partnership focused on the implementation of strategic frameworks and shared priorities.

In a joint statement, AfDB, IOM and AUC said the project will assist the recipient countries in identifying the best methods for effectively mobilising the human and financial capital of the diaspora.

The funds will be used to support socio-economic development by reviving the domestic private sector, or recovery from political or humanitarian crises by leveraging the expertise and networks of diaspora groups.

Speaking at the launch of the project in Ethiopia last week, AfDB acting deputy division manager for the financial intermediation and inclusion division, Mr Lamin Drammeh, said the design of the project benefitted from a fruitful collaboration between the bank, the IOM, AUC) as well as other domestic specialised stakeholders from the beneficiary countries.

“This multi-country intervention will contribute towards strengthening private sector development, which will foster economic growth as well as socio-economic resilience in the beneficiary countries while enhancing business development by leveraging diaspora-oriented financing opportunities and tools and entrepreneurship initiatives,” he said.

Mr Drammeh said the project is expected to contribute to reinforcing the socio-economic resilience of vulnerable populations, particularly women, youth,and rural dwellers.

Head of division of the AUC’s Citizens and Diaspora Organisation Directorate, Ms Angela Naa Afoley, said the timeliness of the agreement allows them to embark on a journey that promises to bridge the gap between the diaspora and local economies, leveraging the expertise and capital of both, to catalyse transformative change.

She said by streamlining processes, reducing barriers and providing strategic support, the SDE4R project will unlock new investment opportunities, spur entrepreneurial ventures and ultimately enhance the resilience of communities, nations and the continent.

Ms Mariama Cisse Mohamed, director of the IOM Special Liaison Office in Addis Ababa, said the project aligns with her organisation’s mandate to promote socio-economic development through migration while providing humanitarian assistance to migrants, including refugees and internally displaced populations.

“As such, IOM will leverage its achievements, tools, methodologies and existing partnerships with various entities, including the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank, to catalyse the diaspora’s contribution to private sector development and humanitarian action in the target countries,” she said.

Ms Mohamed said in addition to the governments of the eight target countries, the project is expected to have 10 000 direct beneficiaries and 40 000 indirect beneficiaries in communities affected by conflict, climate change and other humanitarian and environmental disasters.

An estimated 160 million Africans are in the diaspora and nearly $96 billion was remitted to the continent in 2021 far exceeding the $35 billion in official development assistance that flowed into Africa in the same year