Hybrid event : OECD Conference Centre – Paris & Zoom 

Thursday, 25 May 2023, 13.30 – 17.45 (CET)  

Watch live:

The Opportunity 

The number of Africans estimated to be living outside their country of origin has increased from 15 million in 1990 to 28 million in 2020. Adding their descendants who identify and maintain strong ties with their mother countries, the global African Diaspora is growing in size and importance. 

Diasporas play a special role in linking their two countries, including integrating new waves of immigrants, acting as conduits for knowledge and commercial exchanges, and investing and creating opportunities in both their countries. Beyond their economic impact, diasporas are a very important source of knowledge and skills for their new communities, and they are often conduits for intellectual capital investments back in their countries of origin. Such connections make diasporas a key player and partner for achieving sustainable development in their new and former neighbourhoods, regions, and nations. 

The link between diasporas and sustainable development has been widely acknowledged and celebrated. The 2022 Global Diaspora Summit (GDS) convened in Dublin proposed an action plan for the inclusion of diasporic groups in sustainable development. The French chairmanship of the Global Forum on Migration and Development has made this link between diasporic groups and sustainable development one of six priority areas for the Global Summit that will occur in Geneva in February 2024. 

The Event  

One of the most fundamental elements in enabling a strong link between diasporas and development is the creation of connections. Connections across different diasporic groups. Connections between governments, policy makers and the diaspora. Connections with industry leaders. Connections between the diaspora and business opportunities. People to People in every way possible.  

On the occasion of Africa Independence Day, this symposium by the OECD Development Centre and Minnesota Africans United (MAU) will do exactly that: bring together leaders, policy makers, businesspeople and diasporic groups, to share examples of the many ways diasporas have engaged in private sector development and the ways they mutually benefit both their mother countries in Africa and their new home countries. 

Agenda 

13.30 Welcome coffee (in front of room CC4) 

14.00-14.15 Introduction