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Ghana/ Sierra Leone : to be published
This study was conducted by AFFORD. 57 interviews interviews with diaspora organization leaders were conducted by the research team and an online survey was created to reach out to diaspora members in major cities in five countries: the UK, Netherlands, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.
This reports suggests that both diasporas have contributed positively to the economies of both their host countries and countries of origin, Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean migrants abroad have maintain a steady flow of remittances. Investment in Ghana or Sierra Leone are significantly driven by emotional and social connections. They remain limited and dispersed in terms of diaspora development and investments efforts as they focus on real estate.
The study finds that there is most people are not aware of any official diaspora initiatives as there is a lack of coordination and communication between diaspora organizations. Little or no information is provided by governments and high commissions as none of the countries have a diaspora engagement policy as a strategic framework to provide direction for engaging with diasporas. Governments’ policies and programmes should develop a conducive framework to maximize the contribution of diaspora to the development of countries of origin.
This study was conducted by FORIM through the mobilization of a group of students from ISTOM (Agricultural Economics Engineers) for the conduct of an investigation in France and Burkina Faso between May and July 2017. This investigation in France was completed by two short visits in Northern Italy and Abidjan to meet associations of the Burkinabè diaspora established in these territories. FORIM has also mobilized its partner, the Union des Associations Burkinabè de France (UABF) to facilitate the implementation of this work.
When it comes to the contribution of the Burkinabe diaspora to development and job creation the study finds out that some associations met in Côte d'Ivoire, reported small charitable operations in Burkina but remain small in terms of impact and job creation. Same in France and Italy were the community migration networks are not dense enough to create a real economic impact. It seems that in terms of job creation, private investment seems to be more efficient and sustainable than collective investment. The report emphasizes that it is important to focus on all of the diaspora dynamics and not only on economic opportunities to promote a cohesion and promoting a direct approach with the diaspora, and acknowledging the fact that there is no federal monopoly that unifies all the organization.
This study was conducted by FORIM through the mobilization of a group of students from ISTOM (Agricultural Economics Engineers) for the conduct of an investigation in France and Togo between May and July 2017.
The presence of Togolese nationals is mainly observed at the regional level in the neighbouring countries, where the diaspora is mainly composed of low-skilled workers, more concerned by its own employment situation then by the development of the country of origin. On the other hand, a large part of the Togolese emigrants settled in France come from urban areas and exile movements which are linked to recurrent political troubles. The diaspora in France and Germany is more concerned with the democratic transition and political situation of the country. The study finds that most Togolese diaspora organizations focus on mobilization for democratic transition and political issues rather than solidarity as these activities could be considered as supportive to the regime. Therefore, the question of the participation of the diaspora to job creation in the country of origin is not the main interest for the Togolese abroad.
