Nation Undertaking Policy Review, Strategy Formulation to Hoist Diasporas Role

April 19/2021/ENA/ Ethiopia is undertaking policy review and strategy formulation that will promote and benefit the Diaspora from the development potential of the country.

This was disclosed during a day-long consultative meeting held today in Addis Ababa that aimed at enhancing Diaspora engagement in development through evidence-based policy and strategy.

On the occasion, Ethiopian Diaspora Agency (EDA) Deputy Director-General, Mohammed Endris said evidence-based Diaspora policy review and strategy would enhance the role of Diaspora in the national development agenda.

Diaspora engagement policies at national level have gained popularity in the last decade as countries increasingly seek to capitalize on the resources that migrants can offer to their country of origin.

In view of that, Ethiopia is looking to revise its eight-year-old Diaspora Policy and craft strategy based on study to increase Diaspora engagement in their home country, he said.

Policy interest is driven by the growing awareness about the Diasporas’ potential contributions to development strategies, he stated.

The Diaspora for development approach raises a number of major policy challenges including how to effectively integrate Diaspora contributions into indigenous growth mechanisms.

Thus, Ethiopian Diaspora members’ engagement in their country is low due to multiple challenges, although there are various engagement potentials across the country.

According to the agency, out of the estimated 3 million Ethiopians in the Diaspora, there were 5,259 people who invested in Ethiopia in 2021.  

“With the information we have now, Ethiopians and Ethiopian descents that run anchor companies worldwide, do not even have a small clinic in Ethiopia,” Deputy Director-General said.

The evidence-based Diaspora policy review and strategy preparation is intended to increase the role of the Diaspora in the national development agenda, he elaborated.

Mekonnen Bogale, a researcher in Jimma University, said the way Ethiopians Diaspora participates in the national development is disorganized.

He insisted for a system that should go beyond goodwill of individuals to enable the Diaspora contributes in investments, knowledge and technology transfer.

Ethiopian Diaspora interested to engage in developments that improve the country’s development should get equal chance under the policy and strategy, he added.