June 6, Nairobi, Kenya -  A regional workshop that brought together government ministries and agencies and key stakeholders, including members of the diaspora, from seven countries -  the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Kenya, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Republic of Uganda, the Republic of Madagascar, and the Republic of Zimbabwe – to strengthen diaspora engagement for sustainable development in the East and Horn of Africa (EHoA) has successfully concluded. 

The workshop provided a platform for discussions, information exchange, and the collaborative development of tailored solutions to unlock the significant contributions of diaspora communities to resilience-building, financial inclusion, and economic growth throughout the region. 

In his opening remarks, IOM Kenya’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Faisal Sharrif, said, “The East and Horn of Africa boast a significant diaspora, a dynamic force whose economic, intellectual, and cultural contributions are integral to the region's growth.”  

With millions of EHoA nationals living and working abroad, diaspora communities contribute significantly to their countries of origin, not only by sending money back home but also by fostering entrepreneurship, creating employment opportunities, and facilitating knowledge exchange. These contributions are particularly vital for promoting inclusive growth throughout the region, reducing poverty, promoting economic resilience, and financing development.   

Remittances have surpassed both official development assistance (ODA) and foreign direct investment (FDI) as the most important non-debt source of financial inflows to Africa over the past ten years, according to a recent report by the African Development Bank (AfDB). 

Despite this potential, the diaspora continues to face barriers that hinder their full participation in structured investments, including regulatory challenges, a lack of tailored financial instruments, limited awareness of available investment opportunities, and weak coordination between diaspora groups and key stakeholders in their countries of origin.  

“The time has come to reframe our understanding of the diaspora not as a source of remittances only but as a formidable source of innovation, investment and sustainable development. By streamlining diaspora engagement, we unlock resilient economies, deepen regional cooperation and accelerate progress toward the sustainable development goals and African Union agenda,” says Ambassador Isaiya Kabira, the Director General of International Conferences at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs in Kenya. 

The three-day forum, held from 3-5 June in Nairobi, assessed current trends in diaspora investment, identified policy and institutional gaps, and proposed concrete actions to enhance diaspora contributions. Discussion mainly focused on leveraging diaspora resources beyond remittances into high-impact industries like manufacturing, agribusiness, technology, infrastructure, and renewable energy—all of which have enormous potential for industrialization and job creation. 

Participants also discussed current barriers, such as regulatory challenges and the need for tailored financial instruments, that prevent the full diaspora engagement in structured investments. Key outcomes from the workshop include the creation of a roadmap for strengthening diaspora investment frameworks and policy recommendations to remove regulatory barriers. 

Mr. Islam Swaleh, Head of Entrepreneurship and Investment at the Directorate of Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism, African Union Commission, said, “This is a strategic turning point, a moment to rethink how we engage one of Africa's greatest untapped assets—its global diaspora—a force of economic, intellectual, and social capital. It represents more than remittances. It embodies knowledge transfer, investment potential, innovation networks, advocacy and deep-rooted commitment to the continent's development.“ 

Beyond the economic contributions, the workshop emphasized the role of diaspora networks in humanitarian and resilience support, especially in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and climate resilience initiatives. It also addressed initiatives to strengthen domestic diaspora platforms to enhance coordination amongst diaspora associations, foreign donors, and local actors. 

With the theme Unlocking the Potential of Diaspora Investment in the East and Horn of Africa: Challenges, Opportunities, and Pathways for Sustainable Development, the workshop successfully created networks that link diaspora investors with opportunities in their home countries, laying the foundation for long-term dialogue structures and a more effective framework for diaspora engagement in the EHoA region. 

Mohamed Abshir, Research Manager, Somali Development Bank, at the end of the forum said, “The most important takeaway for me from this event was a scenario where the diaspora transforms and evolve from the stage of individual to individual financial support and move towards  the diaspora community working hand in hand with the government, aligning themselves with development priorities and national interest.” 

The workshop was organized by IOM with the support of the Streamlining Diaspora Engagement to Catalyze Private Investments and Entrepreneurship for Enhanced Resilience (SDE4R) programme funded by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB). 

For more information, please contact 

IOM Regional Office for East, Horn, and Southern Africa, Media and Communication Unit through ronairobimcu@iom.int or call +254 797 735 977