According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) report, the Diaspora community investments are providing additional capital, technology, norms, and networks that are critical for economic and human development in different countries. In doing so, the diaspora-investment enterprises create more employment in rural and underserved areas and may thus have important effects that go beyond the direct comparison of created jobs.
Further than this, they can have an above-average employment rate of women and youths. Thus, giving due attention to Diaspora investments is important to facilitate potential job opportunities and supporting national development endeavors.
Accordingly, Diaspora investments are seen as an untapped source of capital and particular development effects are expected. The Diaspora investment may have a better impact on development in localities of origin than other forms of foreign capital. In addition, the Diaspora community investments at the homeland are indeed the low-hanging fruit for a country in the effort to obtain Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
The Ethiopian Diasporas community has been actively participating in supporting the efforts of nation building through various ways. The Diasporas contributed a lot in mobilizing financial support towards the accomplishments of different mega projects including the construction of the Abby Hydroelectric Dam. The Diaspora community also plays a commendable role through knowledge transfer and supporting the needy through in-kind support.
Recently, the Ethiopian Diaspora Association (EDA) disclosed that a number of activities have been carried out to create a platform in a bid to enhance the Ethiopian Diasporas community participation and mobilize to a common goal on given national issues.
Association Vice president Demeke Negasa told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the newly elected leadership of the Diaspora Association represents all citizens and serves the community without any discrimination.
The movement of the Diaspora community to have a common position and stop standing for opposing views on national issues is becoming effective.
As to Demeke, many people from the taskforce called Washington DC came to an agreement during the so far discussions. Following this, the Head of the Taskforce is being elected as a Diaspora Association Representative at the Washington branch due to the current leadership. This taskforce provided the Federal Police Hospital with computers thereby shifting from opposing views to assistance providers.
He pointed out that the Ethiopian Diaspora Association is the guarantor of the nation and it is rather free from politics, religion and ethnic matters. In this regard, the representatives of the association have been discussing with the Ethiopian embassies found in various countries and encourage the Diaspora community to serve the common interests of their homeland.
He further stated that the Association has been carrying out various activities to correct the participation of the Diaspora community over the past one year. Accordingly, the Diaspora community gave over 7 billion Birr to the construction of the Dam a year ago.
However, the participation of the Diaspora community had diminished due to the presence of irresponsible leaders last year. To improve the Diaspora community participation in the national interest, the newly elected leader was appointed through the democratic system last year.
Moreover the association announced the issuing of a ‘Tombola Le Hagere’ lottery for Diasporas aimed at boosting the Diaspora community contribution in the homeland. Such initiatives are ideal mechanisms to create easiest platforms for the Diaspora community to participate in the national calls and expand Diaspora’s involvement in home country’s development.
The first- of- its-kind fund-raising scheme dubbed Tombola le Hagerie would be launched in the coming September to galvanize the Diaspora’s involvement in home country’s development, the Ethiopian Diaspora Association (EDA) said.
In a press briefing given recently, EDA members stated that consolidated efforts have been carried out to enhance the participation of the Diaspora in national development goals.
Speaking at the occasion, EDA Chairperson Kidist Leulseged said that the association has given due attention to support Ethiopian Diasporas to play a key role in supporting development back in their home country. The lottery is one of the components that the association plans to enable Ethiopians living abroad to contribute to Ethiopia’s progress.
In addition, the association would launch the “Diaspora Village” project in a bid to allow Ethiopian Diasporas acquire houses with affordable prices. The association is now negotiating with relevant government bodies to obtain the plot needed for house construction, the chairperson added.
The association also revealed its plan to finance local development projects by the revenues that would be secured from lottery sales. “The number of Ethiopian Diaspora is expected to hit 10 million. Undoubtedly, this large number of Diaspora has the ability to supplement developmental and societal issues back home. We have also planned to execute more projects that could maintain the Diaspora’s positive contribution for Ethiopia.”
“We have many members who are in the highest academic and professional positions in their countries of residence. Accordingly, we want to capitalize this immense knowledge and expertise by inviting them to teach Ethiopian university students and have prepared several experience sharing events to this end,” he added.
Mentioning the enormous amount of foreign currency the country secured from remittance, he indicated that the association has given prime attention to encourage Ethiopians living abroad to send back money through legal channels and avoid illegal brokers.
In sum, efforts are underway to mobilize the Diaspora community to actively engage in national calls and contribute to the motherland. More importantly, the Diaspora community is also expected to show more participation in building social facilities such as schools and health institutions through various fundraising systems by doing so to address the challenges of the rural community.
Meanwhile, last Thursday, September 7, 2023, management board members of the Ethiopian Diaspora Association attended the inauguration ceremony of the Ethiopian Federal Police Heroes’ Center, constructed by the Ethiopian Federal Police for heroes in leadership and members of the police and injured while they were on duty. At the ceremony, the Ethiopian Diaspora Agency received a recognition certificate and a trophy for computers donation provided by the association to the Federal Police from Diasporas residing in North America.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
The Ethiopia Herald September 14/2023
