This multi-year project aims to strengthen the institutional and operational capacity of the Directorate of Diaspora Affairs responsible for engaging the Diaspora in the development of Somalia. The innovative element of the project is that it aims to expand and redouble the efforts of engaging with the Diaspora through a comprehensive approach and integrated strategy that has not been attempted in the past. It also aims to take the engagement with
the Diaspora to a higher level since the Diaspora remains a defining constituency for the development of Somalia, and they will become even more decisive in the future. Enhanced institutional engagement with the Diaspora through myriads of targeted and integrated interventions will enable the government to leverage more Diaspora-led development in the country that is impactful and on a substantial scale for years to come. This is because the
Somali Diaspora has already positioned itself as an indispensable agent of change in the social, economic and political life of Somalia. This is both in the efforts geared towards achieving inclusive development and social change. More importantly, the project will also support the government and the Diaspora to partner closely in the development efforts geared at achieving some of the key targets of the sustainable development goals in the
country in 2030. This is the justification that makes this proposed project both timely and policy-relevant for the new government of Somalia at this moment.

 Knowledge Platform for Migration Governance in Africa

The aim of the Platform is to establish a network of expertise for migration governance for Africa. The network would serve as a platform devoted to strengthening the interface between research, policy and practice in the field of migration dynamics within the context of African countries. It would also provide a unique opportunity for African migration policy experts to exchange knowledge and cross-fertilize ideas in the field of migration governance from the perspective of migration dynamics in Africa. To this end, the work of the platform would be largely dedicated to building a crucial network of African migration policy experts for the continent. Such a network is urgently needed due to the complexity of prevailing migration dynamics and related issues, which represent huge policy and institutional challenges to many African governments at this juncture.