The African Diaspora Policy Centre (ADPC) enables African Diaspora in Europe to
connect more closely with the continent as a collective force. The thematic areas are Peacebuilding, Better Governance, Migration & Development and Brain Gain
The EU, the African diaspora in Europe and its impact on democracy building in Africa
Paper presented by Awil Mohamoud during the consultation meeting in Addis Ababa on 21-23 April 2009
Executive summary
Democracy-building in Africa through the mediation of the African diaspora in Europe has yet to become a priority on the agenda of the European Union (EU) as the issue has so far failed to capture political attention at that level. Indeed it has so far failed even to gain the political attention of those EU member states where diaspora organisations and institutions can be actively mobilised towards the efforts of democracy-building in Africa. This is primarily because the role that African diasporas play in democracy-building on the continent is an area which has not yet been sufficiently studied, despite its critical significance. As a consequence, the knowledge on the subject which is necessary for developing informed policy prescriptions is still very limited. Thus, the lack of a solid knowledge base on the subject hinders the EU and its member states in formulating appropriate policies that can be translated into feasible strategic interventions and realisable actions.
The human resources and strategic potential of the African diaspora in Europe have not been sufficiently harnessed to promote and advance effective, responsible, transparent, accountable and democratic systems of governance in Africa. Over the past five years, the aspect which has received most policy attention from the EU and its member states has been the size and impact of the financial remittances that diaspora transfer to their respective homelands. However, the African diasporas also transfer non-financial values which influence the development of their homelands, values that could make a significant contribution to improving the situation on the continent.
Fortunately, the newly formulated Joint Africa-EU Strategic Partnership presents a unique opportunity for the EU, its member states and their subsidiary development circles to align themselves with the African diaspora in the implementation of this ambitious programme. The successful execution of the programme will require the mobilisation of a broad spectrum of resourceful actors and stakeholders in the development cooperation circles and beyond, both in Africa and in Europe. There are great advantages to working with the African diaspora (as potential human agents) in the translation of the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership policy priorities into feasible interventions and realisable actions. It should be understood that the diasporas can contribute to democratic governance in much the same way that they currently contribute to economic welfare and development in their home countries. They can do so by making their knowledge, professional experience and expertise available for strengthening the capacity of political institutions in Africa. For the diaspora, democratic governance is critical in the creation of an enabling environment on the ground in the homelands. Creating an enabling environment in the home countries is, in effect, a precondition for sustainable development in Africa. It is also a precondition for engaging the diaspora in the overall development of their respective home countries.
The paper includes five sections. The first section recaps the ongoing discussion of the nexus between migration and development and the key role of the diaspora in this context. The second section outlines the different dimensions of the migration and development field. The third section describes the changing attitude of African governments towards the diaspora. The fourth section explains the potential of the diaspora in democracy-building in Africa. The fifth section illustrates diaspora activities that help promote a democratic culture in their respective home countries and the limited impact of such endeavours. The sixth section examines the shortcomings of the EU policies in partnering the diaspora for the promotion of sustainable democracy in Africa. The final section discusses the role that the diaspora can play in democracy-building in Africa through the Joint Africa-EU Strategic Partnership.
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Democracy-building in Africa through the mediation of the African diaspora in Europe has yet to become a priority on the agenda of the European Union (EU) as the issue has so far failed to capture political attention at that level. Indeed it has so far failed even to gain the political attention of those EU member states where diaspora organisations and institutions can be actively mobilised towards the efforts of democracy-building in Africa. This is primarily because the role that African diasporas play in democracy-building on the continent is an area which has not yet been sufficiently studied, despite its critical significance. As a consequence, the knowledge on the subject which is necessary for developing informed policy prescriptions is still very limited. Thus, the lack of a solid knowledge base on the subject hinders the EU and its member states in formulating appropriate policies that can be translated into feasible strategic interventions and realisable actions.
The human resources and strategic potential of the African diaspora in Europe have not been sufficiently harnessed to promote and advance effective, responsible, transparent, accountable and democratic systems of governance in Africa. Over the past five years, the aspect which has received most policy attention from the EU and its member states has been the size and impact of the financial remittances that diaspora transfer to their respective homelands. However, the African diasporas also transfer non-financial values which influence the development of their homelands, values that could make a significant contribution to improving the situation on the continent.
Fortunately, the newly formulated Joint Africa-EU Strategic Partnership presents a unique opportunity for the EU, its member states and their subsidiary development circles to align themselves with the African diaspora in the implementation of this ambitious programme. The successful execution of the programme will require the mobilisation of a broad spectrum of resourceful actors and stakeholders in the development cooperation circles and beyond, both in Africa and in Europe. There are great advantages to working with the African diaspora (as potential human agents) in the translation of the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership policy priorities into feasible interventions and realisable actions. It should be understood that the diasporas can contribute to democratic governance in much the same way that they currently contribute to economic welfare and development in their home countries. They can do so by making their knowledge, professional experience and expertise available for strengthening the capacity of political institutions in Africa. For the diaspora, democratic governance is critical in the creation of an enabling environment on the ground in the homelands. Creating an enabling environment in the home countries is, in effect, a precondition for sustainable development in Africa. It is also a precondition for engaging the diaspora in the overall development of their respective home countries.
The paper includes five sections. The first section recaps the ongoing discussion of the nexus between migration and development and the key role of the diaspora in this context. The second section outlines the different dimensions of the migration and development field. The third section describes the changing attitude of African governments towards the diaspora. The fourth section explains the potential of the diaspora in democracy-building in Africa. The fifth section illustrates diaspora activities that help promote a democratic culture in their respective home countries and the limited impact of such endeavours. The sixth section examines the shortcomings of the EU policies in partnering the diaspora for the promotion of sustainable democracy in Africa. The final section discusses the role that the diaspora can play in democracy-building in Africa through the Joint Africa-EU Strategic Partnership.
Download PDF (84 kB)