Europe and Africa post-2015 - Migration, Diasporas and Development

PRESS RELEASE

Immediate Release – 15 September 2015, London.

Europe and Africa post-2015 - Migration, Diasporas and Development

Tuesday, 22 September 2015, from 09.00 to 13.30

European Commission Representation in the UK. Europe House 32 Smith Square London SW1P 3EU

Development professionals from Europe and the African diaspora will come together in London next week to find practical ways of integrating diaspora expertise in areas such as gender, science and technology.

While the financial contributions of the African diaspora are increasingly well-known – with $80bn in remittances in 2013 alone – other areas of diaspora expertise in development are often overlooked.[1] From grass-roots activism in challenging practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), to hi-tech start-ups harnessing the latest technology, the African diaspora are making a difference to development in Africa and Europe.

The Africa-Europe Development Platform (AEDP) in partnership with the Foundation for Women's Health Research and Development (FORWARD) and the European Commission Representation in the UK (EC-RUK) are holding a half-day seminar under the European Year for Development theme of 'Demography and Migration' to explore how diaspora contributions can be better integrated with conventional development policy and practice. It will also consider ways to improve awareness of diaspora and migrant contributions to development.

Building on recent high-profile policy engagement events AEDP has organised in the Nordic region on the diaspora and job creation (Copenhagen, Dec 2014), and in Southern Europe on irregular migration (Malta, May 2015), this event will showcase examples of best practice from the African diaspora in Europe.

Speakers and contributors from government, civil society, and the diaspora who are active in development will come together to share best practice and find practical ways of working together more effectively to meet development needs in Africa and Europe alike.

According to AEDP's Interim Executive Director, Gibril Faal, "migrants and diasporas strive daily to enrich families and communities in poor countries across the world. This is done without fuss or fanfare, by cleaners and clinicians, builders and bankers alike, making them the hidden heroes of international development."

The Executive Director of FORWARD, Naana Otoo-Oyortey, states that "In many developing countries, the full potential of women and girls to contribute to economic and social development is hampered at the household, community and national levels by gender disparities in education, discriminatory laws and practices including gender based violence, including during conflicts and biases in access to productive resources. These create vulnerability, death and low productivity." FORWARD is committed to transforming lives and tackling discriminatory practices that affect the dignity and wellbeing of girls and women.

Raghd Hamid from the African Diaspora Youth Network in Europe (ADYNE) said "African youth have tremendous talent, skills and energy. But their collective potential will achieve its greatest impact only if they are allowed to help set the development agenda. Using technology is one way to integrate them into this process – a generation's ideas amplified by new media to increase collaboration and participation."

To contribute and learn more about this exciting debate on Migration, Diasporas and Development please register your attendance, by emailing aleja@ae-platform.org

Notes to Editors:

1. European Commission Representation in the UK is the Commission's voice on political, economic and social developments in the UK, providing background briefings for the media as well as on-the-record comment on issues relevant to the Commission. The Commission disseminates its facts through recognised outlets such as public libraries, business advice centres and education services.

2. AEDP is a project funded by the European Union and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Its mission is to 'improve and enhance the capacity and impact of the African diaspora organisations that are involved in development activities in Africa'.

3. FORWARD (Foundation for Women's Health Research and Development) is committed to gender equality and safeguarding the rights of African girls and women.

[1] Source: World Bank 2013

Best regards,

Desmond Awoonor-Gordon

Communications Consultant

desmond@afford-uk.org

AFFORD - The African Foundation for Development

Rich Mix Building, 35 -47 Bethnal green road, Shoreditch London, E1 6LA | Tel: 0203 326 3750 | www.afford-uk.org