We are nearing the end of the CD4D2 project – time to reflect on four successful years of diaspora engagement!

This newsletter explains more about the project achievements, the CD4D Ambassador Campaign “Diaspora Making the Difference” and the insightful Closing Conference which took place on the 30th of March 2023.  

IOM colleague Ayan Hassan Rabi and CD4D Ambassador Zuhur Mohamed at the CD4D Closing Conference

Starting with the facts and figures, the diaspora managed to make an impressive impact through 212 assignments. The assignments allowed diaspora-experts to transfer their expertise to host institutions in countries of origin. The diagram below shows the number of assignments per country.

The security situation in Afghanistan led to the country being removed from the project in 2021, which explains the relatively low number of assignments. On the other hand, the Somali diaspora conducted 101 assignments. Many Somali diaspora members were in Somalia at the time of the pandemic, and therefore able to conduct an assignment in the country.  

25% of the assignments were completed by women, and one assignment at the Ministry of Migration and Displacement of Iraq focused specifically on women empowerment. We also noticed differences across sectors: most assignments in Nigeria took place in the ICT and agriculture sectors, activities in Somalia were roughly equally distributed across sectors, and Iraqi diaspora-experts were most active in the migration governance sector. You can find more information about the breakdown of assignments per sector below. (From left to right: Nigeria, Somalia, and Iraq.)  

Would you like to know more about how host institutions in Iraq, Nigeria and Somalia experienced the collaboration with diaspora-experts? The video below shows the results of an external evaluation conducted by Maastricht University. The midterm evaluation will also be published on our website and LinkedIn page soon, so stay tuned!  

In 2021, we launched the ‘Diaspora Making the Difference’ Campaign. Ten charismatic CD4D Ambassadors with a passion to connect their countries of origin and the Netherlands became the face of diaspora engagement. Since then, they shared their stories with us. For instance, Nasir Ali and Zuhur Mohamed worked together in Somaliland, Soza Gaffaf contributed to the wellbeing of children in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), Niloufar Rahim is regularly invited to speak at events, and Abubakarr Bangura is starring in a documentary. The Ambassadors reached the Dutch public with their experiences, thereby showcasing the positive side of migration.

Writer Kiza Magendane recently wrote about the importance of positive stories about migration in NRC: “If we share stories such as those of the mysterious doctor, Jela and Niloufar, demagogues who demonize migrants as wild animals will feel embarrassed at some point. This will pave the way for an intelligent migration policy leading to win-win situations: for migrants themselves, their countries of origin, as well as our own interests”.  

Besides facilitating assignments and a national campaign, the CD4D2 team continuously monitors and evaluates the project. This year, our colleague Zia Gulam went to Iraq to meet representatives of host institutions and diaspora experts on duty. Read more about this visit here.  

A meeting with the Ministry of Planning

The CD4D2 team organized a closing conference on 30 March 2023 to celebrate the achievements with everyone who contributed to the project. Representatives of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Embassies of the target countries, diaspora experts, colleagues from Iraq, Nigeria and Somalia, diaspora organizations, partners and many more guests came together to exchange ideas on the future of diaspora engagement.
Curious to read more and see some great pictures of the event? Find the full article here.  

CD4D Closing Conference