A recent report jointly authored by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has underscored the critical importance of diaspora engagement in curbing the detrimental effects of brain drain across Africa.
Entitled “Diaspora Engagement, Climate-Induced Migration and Skills Mobility: A Focus on Africa,” the report contends that effectively managed migration can serve as a potent catalyst for development.
Released recently, the report serves as a comprehensive guide for policymakers and practitioners. It delineates critical areas where migration can bolster Africa’s prospects for progress, emphasizing its positive dimensions. By advocating for the constructive role of migration, the report asserts that African nations can unleash their full developmental potential.
A pivotal aspect underscored in the report is the imperative of engaging African diaspora communities. Such engagement can mitigate the adverse effects of brain drain by facilitating the transfer of skills and knowledge back to the continent. Moreover, diaspora expertise holds significant promise in addressing climate-related challenges.
“Diaspora engagement is pivotal in alleviating the brain drain phenomenon, fostering the exchange of skills and knowledge between various global regions and the African continent. African diaspora communities play a vital role in tackling climate-related issues, spanning sudden-onset challenges to adaptation and disaster risk reduction, provided their technical expertise is harnessed, and skills mobility is facilitated,” the report emphasizes.
The report underscores that partnerships and collaboration are indispensable for mainstreaming diaspora engagement into policy and programmatic responses concerning climate change and skills mobility, at national, regional, and continental levels.
This report represents the culmination of a two-year collaboration between the AfDB, the IOM, and members of the Multilateral Development Bank Platform on Economic Migration and Forced Displacement (EMFD).
In a joint preface, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of AfDB, and António Vitorino, former Director General of the IOM, asserted: “This study meticulously illustrates that well-managed migration can be a powerful impetus for human development and poverty reduction.”
By shedding light on the positive dimensions of migration, this report offers a fresh perspective for policymakers throughout Africa. It posits that by embracing migration as a force for good, African nations can unlock their full developmental potential.
