Regional Diaspora Strategy



COMESA and IOM push to channel remittances into investment, jobs, and trade corridor development across Eastern and Southern Africa

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24 — (22 June 2026) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), has intensified efforts to mobilise diaspora investment as a driver of economic growth, industrialisation, and regional trade integration.

The initiative was advanced during a three-day Diaspora Investment Workshop under the theme “Unlocking Corridor Investment Opportunities,” which brought together diaspora investors, government officials, financial institutions, development partners, and regional organisations.

Discussions focused on practical ways to channel diaspora remittances into productive investments, strengthen investment facilitation frameworks, and improve financial inclusion across COMESA Member States.

Participants noted that while remittances remain vital to household and national economies, there is increasing emphasis on directing more of these flows into structured investments that support job creation, enterprise development, and economic resilience.


Opening the workshop, Humphrey Okusimba, Director of the Savings, Investments and Remittances Division at Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, said diaspora engagement is now central to development planning.

“Diaspora engagement is no longer an afterthought in development planning — it is a strategic imperative,” Okusimba said, adding that governments must prioritise shifting remittances from consumption to investment.

COMESA Assistant Secretary General for Programme, Ambassador Dr Mohamed Kadah, said the region is positioning the diaspora as a key driver of investment, industrialisation, and competitiveness.

He said development corridors across Eastern and Southern Africa offer significant opportunities but require stronger coordination between governments, regional institutions, and diaspora actors.


IOM Deputy Regional Director for East, Horn and Southern Africa, Nihan Erdogan, highlighted the role of women in diaspora investment.

“Women in the diaspora are already leading — as entrepreneurs, professionals, investors, and innovators — yet their contributions remain under-recognised and under-supported,” she said.

The workshop is expected to produce policy recommendations aimed at improving investment facilitation, strengthening diaspora engagement frameworks, and expanding access to financial instruments across the region.

IOM said diaspora communities are increasingly viewed not only as remittance senders, but as strategic development partners contributing capital, skills, and cross-border networks.

The initiative is being implemented under the African Development Bank-funded SDE4R programme, which supports private sector development and resilience through diaspora engagement in selected African transition states.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bishops Decry DEC Summons

Image
ZCCB Warns Against Using State Institutions to Silence Church Leaders By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (3-01-2026) - The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has condemned in the strongest terms the Drug Enforcement Commission’s (DEC) summons of Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda, describing it as a brazen attempt to intimidate the Church and silence its voice on governance. ZCCB President Archbishop Ignatius Chama said in a statement that the Bishops stand in unwavering solidarity with Archbishop Banda, who is scheduled to appear before the Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit of the DEC on 5 January 2026.  The summons, delivered on 31 December 2025, comes amid a wave of public attacks and derogatory remarks against the Archbishop. The Bishops labelled the DEC action as unmistakably state-sponsored harassment, designed to punish Archbishop Banda for speaking truth to power and holding the government accountable.  Bishop Chama warned that weaponizing state institut...
Read more

Opposition Meets ECZ Over Voter Concerns

Image
Lungu says the Dialogue focused on transparency and voter registration ahead of 2026 polls. By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24 -- (October 25, 2025) -- Leaders from the United Opposition Front (UOF) have met with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to discuss concerns surrounding voter registration and other electoral matters ahead of the 2026 general election. The meeting, held at the ECZ Headquarters in Lusaka, brought together opposition parties including The Zambia We Want, the Socialist Party, and the United Liberal Party among others. It was chaired by the ECZ Chairperson and attended by senior officials from the Commission. Speaking shortly after the meeting, Muhabi Lungu, Secretary General of The Zambia We Want, said the engagement was constructive and aimed at promoting transparency and mutual trust between the Commission and political parties.  “We met with the ECZ to share our concerns, particularly on voter registration, and to discuss how we can ensure the process ...
Read more

Consortium Challenges Health Bill

Image
Health groups reject reforms, warn against increased private sector influence in regulation, call for revisions to protect integrity of health regulation and demand meaningful consultation and representation By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia — (13/04/2026) A consortium of seven health professional associations representing over 86 percent of Zambia’s regulated health workforce has challenged the proposed Health Professions (Amendment) Bill No. 23 of 2026, rejecting the reforms and warning that they risk increasing private sector influence, undermining regulatory integrity and excluding practitioners from meaningful participation. Speaking during a joint media briefing, Clinical Officers’ Association of Zambia (COAZ) Secretary General Dr. Musonda Kamfwa said the consortium opposes the bill in its current form because it seeks to alter the governance structure of the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) by reducing the role of health professionals while expanding non-practit...
Read more