Long seen as a loss associated with « brain drain », the African diaspora and Afro-descendants are proving to be a powerful vector for development on the African continent. For economists, their contribution could be even more decisive. To achieve this, certain well-known levers, such as personal financial transfers to Africa, need to be revitalised. Others, underestimated and under-exploited, or even unknown, need to be activated.
According to data from the World Bank, remittances from the diaspora to Africa reached 54 billion dollars in 2023. An increase of 6.1% compared to 2022. The African Development Bank attributes this performance to the introduction by at least 32 African countries of services and policies designed to attract the interest of the diaspora. This is the case in Ethiopia and Rwanda, which are conducting campaigns targeting their expatriates to encourage them to invest in development projects in their countries of origin. This is being done by introducing dual nationality for their nationals and supporting diaspora networks around the world. The aim is to ensure that the diaspora makes a greater contribution to the continent’s development.
« All the figures show just how important the diaspora is in mobilising funding. Today we are in a situation where our economies are heavily dependent on external funding that we have no control over. Every dollar, every euro, in the context of a partnership is a link in a chain that binds us in terms of decision-making. »
Karamoko Jean-Marie, Minister of Foreign Affairs – Burkina Faso
Although their volume exceeds that of Foreign Direct Investment, estimated at USD 22 billion in 2022, remittances from the African diaspora contribute only marginally to the financing of development and wealth creation on the continent. To this end, it is imperative that African governments and financial institutions work together to overcome the persistent challenges and ensure that these funds contribute optimally to the well-being of African populations.
« This is the paradox facing our countries today, because the figures you have given for Mali in particular far exceed what is called official development assistance, but yet we call these donors donors but we don’t call the diaspora a donor, even though it deploys resources that go beyond the resources we receive from these partners. So today we need to take a fresh look at how we value and respect the diaspora who make these investments. «
Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs – Mali
The contribution of the diaspora and Afro-descendants doesn’t limit to funds transferring. The « brain drain » associated with their departure could, according to experts, benefit the continent by providing a pool of skilled labour. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), some African countries, such as Angola, Cameroon, Ghana and Senegal, had a skilled diaspora rate of over 20% in developed countries in 2010.
« They don’t feel comfortable in the host countries either. When they see that this continent is discriminated against, they want to come to the rescue of the continent and contribute with their skills and their financial resources to enable the continent’s development ».
Elie NKAMGUEU, President of Club Efficience – Cameroon
With a view to drawing up a normative framework to steer exchanges between the diaspora and Africa, the African Union is organising the 9th Pan-African Congress in Lomé from 22 to 25 October 2024. The event will bring together Africans from the continent, the diaspora and Afro-descendants around the theme of « Renewing pan-Africanism and Africa’s role in the reform of multilateral institutions: mobilising resources and reinventing ourselves for action ».
