Cape Verde/ A new diaspora initiative to find collaborative solutions for sustainable development

Following an ambitious and collaborative call to action, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Government of Cape Verde, has successfully launched the Global Diaspora Policy Alliance (GDPA). This new initiative, inaugurated at the International Conference on the Future Agenda for Global Diaspora Engagement, will be committed to harnessing the knowledge, innovations and resources of diaspora communities to create sustainable solutions to global challenges.

Inspired by the success of the 2022 World Diaspora Summit and the Dublin Declaration, the event concluded global efforts to harness the transformative potential of diaspora communities.

"It's already abundantly clear that diasporas from all over the world contribute enormously to their countries of residence and origin, and that remittances are a major source of economic growth.remittances are only part of that contribution," said Amy Pope, IOM Director General. "What's needed now is to take diaspora engagement to the next level - to identify ways of truly harnessing this vast potential to drive positive change. This conference is a call to action in that sense."

The GDPA, launched in Cape Verde, is the result of a vast collaboration between stakeholders from all over the world. An inclusive and collaborative platform, this alliance aims to bring together member states, the private sector, academia and diaspora communities to jointly create practical solutions to certain global emergencies. Working particularly on themes such as gender and youth leadership, climate resilience and global health, the GDPA seeks to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthen the impact of diaspora contributions worldwide.

The conference reaffirmed IOM's global leadership in diaspora engagement and its determination to empower, engage and assist diaspora members through partnerships with member states, diasporas and other relevant stakeholders. The GDPA will act as a catalyst for sustainable growth and innovation, ensuring that diaspora contributions are fully integrated into global development frameworks.

The Dublin Declaration, which laid the foundations for this initiative, has garnered widespread support from a large number of countries and organizations, including Armenia, Bangladesh, Cape Verde, Colombia, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.India, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mexico, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey, African Union and Uruguay. This collective support underlines the global interest in diaspora engagement as a key driver of sustainable development.

During the event, the government of Georgia announced its role as co-chair of the GDPA Institutional Steering Committee and host of the next Global Diaspora Summit.

The conference brought together a range of renowned speakers, including member state representatives, diaspora leaders, private sector experts and youth advocates.

IOM's Strategic Plan 2024-2028 places diaspora engagement at the heart of its mission to find solutions to displacement, strengthen regular migration channels and improve global development outcomes. The GDPA will institutionalize diaspora participation, ensuring that their voices and expertise are central to the development of cross-border policies, programs and partnerships.

At the dawn of its implementation, the GDPA promises to bring about significant change and foster collaboration across borders.

Source: www.iom.int/fr/