Migrant Entrepreneurs as Drivers for Development

This aim of this side event is to debate the multiple ways in which diasporas/migrant communities drive the development of their countries of origin through the promotion of trade, investments, and knowledge and technology transfers. This event focuses on how to involve migrants and optimise their contributions to development-friendly investments and entrepreneurship. It will also draw upon the new World Bank publication on “Diaspora for Development in Africa” (eds. Sonia Plaza & Dilip Ratha) and also try to address how the private sector should be incentivised to enter into partnership with migrant entrepreneurs. 

Mobilising Development-friendly Investments and Entrepreneurship by Migrants

Leila Rispens-Noel, Senior Advisor, International Network of Alternative Financial Institutions

Policies and Programmes that Generate Market Opportunities for Migrants

Sonia Plaza, Senior Economist, World Bank

Reinforcing the Contributions of African Diasporas to Development

Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie, Co-Founder of AFFORD; founding partner in Up-Africa! Ltd & Inclusive Growth Strategies Ltd

Moderator: Titilola Banjoko, Director, Africa Recruit

Discussant: Barbara Span, Vice President of Public Affairs, Western Union