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
Policy Seminar
Participation of the Diaspora in the Joint Africa-EU Strategic Partnership
H. E. Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Ambassador of the African Union Mission in Brussels and Saul Kaye, Manager of Governance & Public Administration AU/NEPAD office
< 1/10 >
All photographs: © François Vieira - Photos Vied'art
On 1-2 October 2009, the African Diaspora Policy Centre (ADPC) hosted a Policy Seminar, co-organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission.
The Seminar was the second phase of a programme initiated earlier this year by the ADPC, to further strengthen the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership by mobilising the significant potential of the African diaspora living in Europe to play a valuable bridge-building role in its implementation. It was also intended to be a follow-up to the Seminar ‘Engaging African Diaspora in Europe as Strategic Agents for Development in Africa’, which took place in Brussels in June 2008.
Over the past few years, policy makers at the highest levels, researchers and practitioners have recognised the key role that the diaspora can play in the development of their countries of origin. The diaspora’s dual identity, as citizens of both home and host societies, places them in a strategic position to understand the realities and challenges of both the North and South. Africans living in Europe occupy an important position to act as mediators between Europe and Africa, and therefore, harnessing their social and financial capital will help Africa’s socio-economic development.
There is a strong need to actively engage the African diaspora in policy making and implementation to achieve more coherent and effective results. Until now, few concrete initiatives have managed to bring together diaspora leaders and policy makers from Africa and Europe to discuss practical options to develop effective partnerships and advance an inclusive agenda.
The Seminar intended to fill this gap. It was a unique event which offered key diaspora leaders, AU and EU officials working on migration and development, the opportunity to discuss, interact and forge closer links as well as to get to know each other’s priorities and concerns. Most importantly, it provided the possibility to exchange ideas on the strategic role that the African diaspora in Europe can play both in policy dialogue and the practical implementation of the Joint Africa – EU Strategic Partnership (more specifically, within the framework of the Africa – EU Partnership on Migration, Mobility and Employment).
This Seminar explored the options and policy instruments that could facilitate the involvement of the diaspora as critical development actors within the Africa – EU Partnership in a structured and formal manner. It identified specific aspects in the Action Plan of the Partnership through which the diaspora and established development policy circles can partner and join forces for a successful implementation.
The objective of this Seminar was to formulate an African diaspora position on the Joint Africa – EU Strategic Partnership. This ‘diaspora position’ will be presented in the form of a Policy Report to the Swedish government (during its EU presidency) and at the Civil Society Days of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) to be held in Athens on 2 – 3 November 2009.
The Seminar was held at the Borschette Conference Centre, European Commission. A full report of the Seminar will soon be available on our website.
• Programme
• Background Document
• Background Paper
. Proceedings Document
On 1-2 October 2009, the African Diaspora Policy Centre (ADPC) hosted a Policy Seminar, co-organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission.
The Seminar was the second phase of a programme initiated earlier this year by the ADPC, to further strengthen the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership by mobilising the significant potential of the African diaspora living in Europe to play a valuable bridge-building role in its implementation. It was also intended to be a follow-up to the Seminar ‘Engaging African Diaspora in Europe as Strategic Agents for Development in Africa’, which took place in Brussels in June 2008.
Over the past few years, policy makers at the highest levels, researchers and practitioners have recognised the key role that the diaspora can play in the development of their countries of origin. The diaspora’s dual identity, as citizens of both home and host societies, places them in a strategic position to understand the realities and challenges of both the North and South. Africans living in Europe occupy an important position to act as mediators between Europe and Africa, and therefore, harnessing their social and financial capital will help Africa’s socio-economic development.
There is a strong need to actively engage the African diaspora in policy making and implementation to achieve more coherent and effective results. Until now, few concrete initiatives have managed to bring together diaspora leaders and policy makers from Africa and Europe to discuss practical options to develop effective partnerships and advance an inclusive agenda.
The Seminar intended to fill this gap. It was a unique event which offered key diaspora leaders, AU and EU officials working on migration and development, the opportunity to discuss, interact and forge closer links as well as to get to know each other’s priorities and concerns. Most importantly, it provided the possibility to exchange ideas on the strategic role that the African diaspora in Europe can play both in policy dialogue and the practical implementation of the Joint Africa – EU Strategic Partnership (more specifically, within the framework of the Africa – EU Partnership on Migration, Mobility and Employment).
This Seminar explored the options and policy instruments that could facilitate the involvement of the diaspora as critical development actors within the Africa – EU Partnership in a structured and formal manner. It identified specific aspects in the Action Plan of the Partnership through which the diaspora and established development policy circles can partner and join forces for a successful implementation.
The objective of this Seminar was to formulate an African diaspora position on the Joint Africa – EU Strategic Partnership. This ‘diaspora position’ will be presented in the form of a Policy Report to the Swedish government (during its EU presidency) and at the Civil Society Days of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) to be held in Athens on 2 – 3 November 2009.
The Seminar was held at the Borschette Conference Centre, European Commission. A full report of the Seminar will soon be available on our website.
• Programme
• Background Document
• Background Paper
. Proceedings Document