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鈥淚t is important to look strategically at the diaspora鈥檚 role in African development,鈥� Obiagali Ezekwesili, the World Bank鈥檚 vice president for Africa, told African expatriates.

Photograph: World Bank / Arne Hoel

To understand the potential of Africans living outside Africa to contribute to their continent鈥檚 social and economic progress, one only had to attend the opening of an 鈥淎frican diaspora open house鈥� held in the US capital. The 400-seat auditorium at World Bank headquarters was packed with doctors and lawyers, engineers and architects, scientists, professors and entrepreneurs who had left their home countries in search of better lives overseas. But they still wanted to explore how they could participate in building a prosperous and democratic Africa.

Obiagali Ezekwesili, the World Bank鈥檚 vice president for Africa, noted that remittances from the diaspora, estimated at some $32-40 bn annually, now exceeds official development assistance to the region. 鈥淏eyond wealth,鈥� she added, Africans in the diaspora have 鈥渢he skills and knowledge that would need to be mobilized鈥� to promote the continent鈥檚 advancement. 鈥淚t is therefore important to look strategically at the diaspora鈥檚 role in African development.鈥�

During the daylong series of panels and workshops on 25 February, participants engaged senior World Bank officials on everything from creating bonds for starting micro-enterprises back home to creating a diaspora skills database that could be used by African governments and international development agencies.

The World Bank launched its African diaspora programme in 2007, the same year it organized its first African diaspora conference. In 2008 it partnered with the African Union (AU), which has designated the diaspora as one of Africa鈥檚 six regions.

Dr. Jimni Adisi, speaking for the AU Commission, noted that the pan-African body has reserved 20 seats in its Economic, Social and Cultural Council for representatives of civil society groups in the diaspora. 鈥淭he next step,鈥� he told participants at the open house, 鈥渨ould be to explore how the diaspora participates in all of the other institutions鈥� of the AU. To be eligible, he said, such representatives 鈥渕ust have a bloodline, must be dispersed outside the continent and must commit to building the African Union.鈥�

鈥楢 foot in two worlds鈥�

For all the good will and commitment in evidence at the open house, there also were frank acknowledgements of the challenges ahead. Sierra Leone鈥檚 ambassador to the US, Bockari Kortu Stevens, recounted the case of a highly skilled Sierra Leonean expatriate who was personally recruited by the president for a senior post in the mining ministry. Although excited to be able to 鈥済ive back鈥� to his country, the expatriate felt compelled to return to the US because his local salary could not even cover his family鈥檚 health insurance costs. 鈥淗e had a foot in two worlds 鈥� one in his adopted home and one in Sierra Leone 鈥� and he couldn鈥檛 stay in them both,鈥� Mr. Stevens noted. 鈥淭hese are some of the practical and human problems we face.鈥�

Richard Cambridge, head of the World Bank鈥檚 diaspora programme, candidly acknowledged that the first open house in 2007 had little follow-through and was marked by divergent expectations. The attempt to create a skills bank, he said, amounted to little more than collecting business cards and giving them to the Bank鈥檚 project managers in Africa, with few results.

Ibedia Alltrade, president of a non-profit group 100 Hours for Nigeria, based in Hartford, Connecticut, in the US, agreed. 鈥淣othing came out of the 2007 meeting,鈥� he told Africa Renewal. 鈥淲e know what the Bank wants from us, but it isn鈥檛 clear what we get from the Bank.鈥� The diaspora, he noted, is already sending money home to families and supporting community projects through hometown associations. He suggested that the World Bank provide clearer information about how it operates and plan future meetings jointly with members of the diaspora.

Adjusting expectations

Both the World Bank and the diaspora need to work harder on their relationship, Ntal Alimasi, a former World Bank consultant who now heads the National Association of African Catholics in the US, told Africa Renewal. World Bank officials 鈥渞ealize that many of their big projects have failed once they hit the ground in Africa,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey know the diaspora can help them reach the villages and be a bridge to the communities.鈥�

Mr. Alimasi also noted that many of those who came to the 2007 meeting had unrealistic expectations. 鈥淭hey came thinking they could change the way the Bank operates, and maybe pick up a contract here and there. That鈥檚 just not realistic. We should be thinking about how to hold the Bank more accountable for its programmes in Africa, not trying to change it from outside.鈥�

It is important for members of the diaspora and officials of the World Bank to find ways in which 鈥渆verybody鈥檚 interests get served.鈥� Whether the World Bank, the African Union and the diaspora can forge a more effective partnership remains to be seen, Mr. Alimasi concluded. 鈥淏ut I鈥檝e spent my day here. I鈥檓 giving them the benefit of the doubt.鈥�

鈥� Africa Renewal online