
BY HAILE DEMEKE
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Diaspora Agency (EDA) launched a project which would augment Diasporas involvement in overall economic, social and political activities of the homeland.
According to the agency, the project would be implemented within the coming two years with a total proposed budget of about 67 million Birr.
The project has its own administration and will be managed by the Ethiopian Diaspora agency in collaboration with the four partner universities Jimma, Hawassa, Jigjiga and Wollo University.
EDA Deputy Director Mohammed Endris (PhD) said that Diasporas are increasingly recognized as a key actor in the development process low and middle income countries and play an important role in achieving economic growth of the country.
“The existing policy is full of bureaucracy and the new project is expected to remove those hurdles and implemented within the coming two years. The project is expected to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the existing policies and devise strategies for better involvement of Diaspora in development.”
In the long term it will contribute to the active engagement of the Ethiopian Diaspora in the sustainable development of the country. The potential of the Diaspora is still untouched and the agency is working to exploit the potential collaborating with the relevant stakeholders, he said.
The project is limited to enhance the engagement of the Diaspora in development through evidence based policies and strategies. The overall objective of the study is to assess the status challenges and opportunities of diaspora investment in Ethiopia.
Jimma University Lecturer Mekonin Bogale (PhD) said that Contribution of Diaspora is positively regarded and different initiatives have been in place to take Diaspora policy. Considering this the government is working but much is remained in exploiting the potential.
Scientifically generated evidence for strategic and policy direction is required to engage Diaspora in the socio-economic aspect of the country. Thus a national level study of Diaspora engagement in knowledge, skill and technology transfer to relevant institutions in Ethiopia is very timely and appropriate to bridge the knowledge gap.
However the reality on the ground shows the performance and the contribution of these investments project are not as it was expected due to various bottlenecks. The government has done many activities to encourage and attract Diaspora which includes establishments of different institutions like Diaspora agency.
The Ethiopian Herald 20 April 2021