Diaspora / Returnee Perspectives

Diaspora / Returnee Perspectives

Addressing Opportunities & Challengesfor Engagement with

Employment Systems in Home Countries

Addressing Opportunities & Challengesfor Engagement with

Employment Systems in Home Countries

July 12, 2007July 12, 2007

DiasporaDiaspora• A dispersion of an originally homogeneous entity, such as a language or culture

• There is no ‘African Diaspora’ - every country and culture is unique, and we all face different issues

• Each country’s Diaspora is no longer homogeneous - experiences and education in different parts of the world make us unique

• A dispersion of an originally homogeneous entity, such as a language or culture

• There is no ‘African Diaspora’ - every country and culture is unique, and we all face different issues

• Each country’s Diaspora is no longer homogeneous - experiences and education in different parts of the world make us unique

Africa - where ‘it’ is atAfrica - where ‘it’ is at• There is a global

movement aiming to lift Africa out of poverty through trade, not aid

• There has been a spurt in growth in African foreign currency reserves, mostly as a result of oil, but also better economic policies and external factors

• There is a global movement aiming to lift Africa out of poverty through trade, not aid

• There has been a spurt in growth in African foreign currency reserves, mostly as a result of oil, but also better economic policies and external factors

To be young, gifted, and black... is where it is at. - Nina Simone, 1970

To be young, gifted, and black... is where it is at. - Nina Simone, 1970

$21bn

$21bn

$108bn$108bn

Source: IMFSource: IMF

Africa’s Foreign Currency Reserves

Africa’s Foreign Currency Reserves

OpportunitiesOpportunities• Enter the workforce as a senior member

• Truly add value to a company / government

• No racial barriers [although tribalism exists]

• Relatively less capital required to start a business

• The ‘soft’ factors

• TIA

• Enter the workforce as a senior member

• Truly add value to a company / government

• No racial barriers [although tribalism exists]

• Relatively less capital required to start a business

• The ‘soft’ factors

• TIA

ChallengesChallenges• A lower salary in absolute terms

• A sense of law-lessness and insecurity

• Perceived missed quality of life

• Government: bureaucracy & hassle factor

• Lack of corporate professionalism

• TIA

• A lower salary in absolute terms

• A sense of law-lessness and insecurity

• Perceived missed quality of life

• Government: bureaucracy & hassle factor

• Lack of corporate professionalism

• TIA

Making engagement with the system easierMaking engagement

with the system easierCorporates Governments

Employee Stock Ownership Plans

[ESOPs]

Decrease ‘Hassle Factors’

Performance-based compensation

Improved Security

Succession Plans in Private Businesses

Tax / Investment Incentives

ConclusionConclusion• Africa is where ‘it’ is at

• Opportunities exist for Diaspora

• ‘Returnees’ face numerous challenges, but none that are insurmountable

• The private sector and government both have roles to play to encourage the Diaspora to return

• Africa is where ‘it’ is at

• Opportunities exist for Diaspora

• ‘Returnees’ face numerous challenges, but none that are insurmountable

• The private sector and government both have roles to play to encourage the Diaspora to return