The FINANCIAL — The African Union (AU) Commission and the World Bank signed an agreement this week under which the Bank is providing US$487,000 in grant funding for strengthening the African Diaspora Program of the AU.
The Institutional Development Fund is part of the World Bank’s support in enhancing the capacity of the AU Mission to the United Sates in Washington, DC. It will enable the AU Mission to carry out one of its core functions of developing and maintaining productive relationships with the African Diaspora in the Americas (North America, the Caribbean and Latin America).
The program will help strengthen knowledge sharing and coordination between the AU Mission, the Diaspora and development partners in the Americas. It will also help develop a reliable database of the African Diaspora networks and individuals.
It will also help initiate resource mobilization efforts from the African Diaspora and private Sector in the Americas. Furthermore, it will enhance the capacity of the AU Commission to effectively advocate support for Diaspora in international, bilateral and multilateral institutions as well as in other global dialogues on African Diaspora.
“The African Diaspora constitute a uniquely potent resource group critical to resolving the capacity challenges facing the continent”, said Ms. Ezekwesili. “Leveraging their huge and diverse talents and effectively connecting them to the continent's development calls for strong commitment on the part of African Governments. A strong and capable AU Commission can catalyze this commitment and signal that the Diaspora is indeed Africa’s sixth region,” she added.
Signing on behalf of the AU was the deputy chair of its Commission, Mr. Erastus Mwencha. Ambassador Amina Salum Ali, head of AU Mission to Washington, DC, was also present at the signing ceremony.
“The signing of this grant is a concrete testimony of the World Bank's desire to further strengthen and consolidate institutional relationship with the African Union Commission,” said Mr. Mwencha as he expressed appreciation for the grant.
The AU, African governments, the World Bank Group and other development partners on Africa, recognize that the African Diaspora must become full partners in the continent’s development. The AU has embarked on the steps necessary to harness the expertise and resources of African Diaspora as the “sixth (6th) region” of Africa. The first step is the establishment of a Representational Mission to the United States of America, with an Ambassador in Washington, DC.
The World Bank launched its Mobilizing the African Diaspora for Development in September, 2007, with the objectives of: Enhancing capacity for improved services delivery in public and private sector and institutions by Diaspora Technical Expert Networks; increasing the size and quality of Diaspora-led investment initiatives; and improving policy development and partnerships among stakeholders for building stronger, more responsive and capable African public and private sector institutions.
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