At the United Nations 78th General Assembly (UNGA78) in New York on September 20, 2023, the African Diaspora Network (ADN) in collaboration with KBFUS will host a side event under the theme “Beyond Remittances: African Diaspora Investment.”
The event will hold discussions on how diasporans can support the economic development of Africa beyond remittances to direct investment in local enterprises that will scale their impact both in Africa and globally.
This session is also part of African Diaspora Network’s ongoing Impact & Innovation Forums on “Beyond Remittances,” dedicated to increasing awareness, engagement, and action on how the diaspora can go beyond remittances to contribute to the betterment of the continent of Africa.
Questions to be addressed in the session include:
• How do we continue to support and enhance African diaspora engagement for investment in their communities and across borders on the continent?
• What is the role of the diaspora in scaling up social impact and uplifting communities in Africa?
• What public-private partnerships can be leveraged to help diasporans go beyond remittances?
• How can we in the diaspora take advantage and ownership of the efforts by the U.S. government and other stakeholders?
• What roles do blended investments play in structuring collective remittances to boost young African entrepreneurs leading social impact, products, and services?
• What are some of the innovative approaches and investment opportunities that are trending across the continent, and can collective remittances be integrated for maximum impact? • What considerations should be taken to ensure that investments are ethical and contribute to the long-term development and prosperity of Africa?
On the stellar panel will include distinguished personalities like The Hon. Ms. British A. Robinson Coordinator, Prosper Africa (Keynote Speaker), Kady Sylla, Senior Advisor – Africa, King Baudouin Foundation United States – KBFUS (Context Setter), Almaz Negash, Founder and Executive Director, African Diaspora Network (Context Setter), Deniece Laurent-Mantey, Special Advisor for U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Implementation, U.S. Department of State (Panelist), “Tonton” Ali Diallo VC, Venture Builder, Impact Leader, Serial Entrepreneur (Panelist), Pedro De Vasconcelos, Programme Manager, Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR), Lead Senior Technical Specialist on Remittances, Migration and Inclusive Finance, IFAD (Panelist), and Ramatoulaye Diallo, Founder and CEO, Great Green Wall of Africa (GGWoA) Foundation (Conversation Starter).
Moderator for the session will be Josh Ghaim, Ph.D., Founder and Managing Partner, Ignite Venture Studio; and Board Chairman, African Diaspora Network.
The panel discussion will examine innovative approaches to diaspora engagement beyond remittances and approaches to sustainable investment.
The goal will be to find ways to encourage the diaspora to tap into their savings and scale investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, housing, employment, and essential determinants in Africa.
The time for Africans from the diaspora to go beyond remittances and to engage in collective, high-impact, and sustainable investment practices is now, and ADN works in tandem with this belief.
The session is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
This is a by invitation only event. Please contact info@africandiasporanetwork.org if you are interested in attending.
For more information, kindly contact African Diaspora Network’s website.
Source: African Diaspora Network
Image Attribution: African Diaspora Network
Edited by: Theresa R. Fianko