BY MENGESHA AMARE
Having objections regarding a place of origin or country it is quite inevitable and natural, too, as it is hard to get everyone satisfied in due course of administering a nation, let alone a homogeneously configured nation like ours. The objections/reservations might emanate from the wrongdoings of individuals and irresponsible groups of course, but a country is an invaluable gift that could never be denied and belittled at all no matter how grave the transgression done against individuals or groups may be.
It is highly remembered that the contribution of the Ethiopian diaspora to the construction of the Grand Abbay Dam has truly been a milestone in the history of the country thereby bringing about an affluent nation of which everyone confidently proud of. When the country was once at stake to be dismantled, it was the diaspora who came first and were its voices and potentially reversed a range of backbreaking sanctions and undue interferences. The diaspora community unanimously underscored the fact that there is huge demand for Ethiopia to get prospered.
Needless to state, thousands of millions of Ethiopian diaspora members send money back to country of origin—Ethiopia—each year. These financial transfers can make a significant contribution to development and growth of the country, no doubt. They help individual families to get by, enable people to start small and medium businesses and provide the nation with much needed capital for national economic augmentation.
Undeniably, better understanding of remittances and their implications is vital for development. In many low and middle income countries like Ethiopia remittance inflows are worth more than Foreign Direct Investment. Yes, facilitating the flow of remittances, lowering the cost of sending and receiving them and maximizing their impact on development are core objectives in a range of national, regional, continental and international development strategies and frameworks.
It has been so far proved that diaspora and nation-building are two sides of a coin as the former have made untold contribution to the development of Ethiopia. The great contribution the diaspora have performed has helped the nation for example effectively complete its Grand Abbay Dam, it is about to be completed. Surprisingly, when Ethiopia commenced the construction of this Dam, it confidently took local economy, labor, skill, expertise and other necessary inputs at home into account including those of the diaspora and foreigners of Ethiopian origin.
Yes, the government of Ethiopia pays homage to the contributions of its diaspora to the independence struggle and nation-building. Besides, a nation is not an easy deal as it requires the combined effort of all citizens at home and abroad. Yes, citizens of Ethiopia have in one way or another left for abroad or neighboring nations and set up a permanent residence or come back staying for a limited number of years in the host nation.
The role the remittance sent by those citizens to motherland has of paramount importance in fostering the overall development and growth of that nation. However, there are some who have stood against the desire of the country as they have opposed to send remittances to Ethiopia. Developing some sorts of hatred upon individuals or groups is a different matter, which needs to be separately treated accordingly, but a country could never be bargained.
Cognizant of the fact that diaspora contribution would open the way for a new approach to Ethiopia and prosperity nexus, they are expected to exchange views on how to strengthen political and institutional commitment as a basis for designing and implementing policies and programs of diaspora engagement relevant to their country’s needs setting the futile attempts and destructive moves against their country aside.
I don’t want to leave the most important fact here; the diaspora responded to the growing pressures from many corners of the globe, governments, and international organizations and urgently took action to defend their country in relation to the recent war in its northern part and the issue of Abbay Dam tabled at the UN security council being unique of its kind.
If truth be told, every diaspora has contributed to the collective effort to find answers to the enduring question of how Ethiopia can settle and maintain its peace and tranquility to record growth and development. They also sought to define the policies, frameworks and partnerships to support this effort and optimize the benefits of diaspora bridging societies and states.
It is also well recognized that the contributions of Diasporas in post-crisis situations go beyond immediate protection to transitional and longer-term reconstruction efforts, and also through advocacy with host governments, galvanizing other international support and working closely with international organizations for the sake of their country—Ethiopia.
It is also well known that there is interest within diaspora communities in supporting the growth and development of their country of origin apart from transferring remittances to their families. It is well recognized that in many developing countries like Ethiopia, remittances contribute to keep national consumption afloat and represent great deal of Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
Hence, Diasporas can play an important role in the economic development. Beyond their well-known role as senders of remittances, Diasporas can also promote trade and foreign direct investment, create businesses and spur entrepreneurship, and transfer new knowledge and skills.
Governmental diaspora-focused entities like Diaspora Affairs Office in Ethiopia need to play a dual role, both facilitating diaspora contributions to the homeland, and serving the diaspora. True, the Diaspora community is usually used as a driving force for development and change as it has so far proved effective. Not only has Ethiopia recognized the potential of its Diasporas to contribute to local development but the diaspora engagement has also come more prominently on the radar of development cooperation.
Undeniably, Ethiopian diaspora communities are seen to serve as a vehicle for transferring resources, technology, business ideas, knowledge and talents thereby contributing to economic, social and even political development. There is indeed high potential for maximizing the positive impact on creating jobs and income through financial investments, networks and skills of the diaspora. Besides, financial and skills flow from the diaspora communities are often seen as the most tangible element of the nexus between exodus and development. Not only do investment decisions of diaspora communities provide the nation with financial gains but they do also have an emotional attachment to the country of origin.
True, they do have the local knowledge and higher motivation because of collective memory and the myth about the homeland, including the wish to return home one day. The engagement of Diasporas requires an enabling environment. Diaspora members spontaneously develop networks and transfer resources and knowledge back and forth. However, in order to develop their full potential, policies related to integration, social protection, citizenship, among others, to return and the possibility to build partnerships between countries of origin and destination, are essential in facilitating engagement.
True, foreigners of Ethiopian origin who wish to engage in development greatly benefit from programs have aimed at empowering themselves via facilitating the conditions that allow communities and individuals to strengthen their links and utilize the resources generated through human mobility. Without a shadow of doubt, Diasporas and the growth of remittances are key present-day development trends which impact directly the lives of many.
As the relationship with the diaspora community is significantly useful in securitizing remittances, cementing diaspora bonds, promoting trade and investment, enhancing research, innovation and technology sharing, all members of the diaspora have to have a similar stance for helping their country grow well. Hence, those who have been opposing to send remittances to Ethiopia have to change their mind and even strengthen the legal flow of remittances as their country is equaled by nothing. Yes, getting Ethiopia grow over objections should be the call of the day.
True, securitized remittances, which have been sent using legal channel, would offer the Ethiopian government robust investment collateral and a source of financing through bond issuance. In addition to remittances, Ethiopian diasporas represent a source of much-needed direct investment, expertise and skills that can be transferred to businesses and workers in their homeland—Ethiopia.
Yes, the development of Ethiopia must be a priority for all Ethiopians in the diaspora, too. As the flow of remittances to Ethiopia is high, the country should securitize remittances to promote investments, especially for infrastructure and basic development inputs. Besides, Ethiopians living in the Diaspora have to be given the right to invest at home in their preference, and the government has to make conditions suitable for the diaspora to contribute meaningfully to national development or, even better, not to leave in the first place.
Unequivocally, remittances offer a window of opportunity for Ethiopia’s development against a backdrop of declining foreign direct investment and foreign aid. Thus, the government needs to get to know its diaspora centering where the diaspora is located, what their skills and capacities are, and how willing they are to engage in various development spheres at home. Since the diaspora communities have a crucial role in changing the narrative and perceptions about Ethiopia, they have to do all their best for the growth and development of the country instead of orchestrating futile attempts which can give Ethiopia hard time like opposing remittance sending.
As cited above, diaspora engagement has grown beyond traditional remittances for their respective individual families into concrete development support, such as poverty reduction, economic growth or post-crisis recovery. They have also been a significant asset in supporting humanitarian action in their places of origin.
Such a rewarding move and combined effort has built strong trust and social cohesion at the local level, and heightened diaspora engagement to widely invest in Ethiopia. This sacred action needs to be well reinvigorated and all diaspora members are expected to move hand in glove towards building new Ethiopia, as the country has to be prioritized than anything else, even if there are reservations, they will be solved vi dialogues and close talks giving Ethiopia top place along that line.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
The Ethiopian Herald April 14/2023
