Diaspora

The interest and engagement of Diaspora in the development of Somalia and other East African regions where Somalia ethnic groups are living, is important to give the development the required boost. However, engaging Somali Diaspora to take an active role in the development is a difficult and challenging task. A division and a destructive attitude between Somali communities living in Somalia and other parts of East Africa also exist among Diaspora living in Europe or the United States.

In this context HIRDA will take action in the following areas:

Change brain-drain into brain-gain by mobilizing Diaspora to provide their expertise to their country of origin;
Increase financial and social remittances;
Leverage the remittances by providing financial literacy training to migrants and their family in East Africa (for a more effective and efficient use of funds), by establishing remittance networks and by using contacts with financial institutions to lower transaction cost and increase flexibility of money transfers;
Increase the interest for issues related to “Migration & Development”
Reduce the destructive attitude and division between Somali communities and NGOs by setting up awareness raising campaigns