Diaspora Networks at Work in SADC Prof Jonathan Crush, Director, Southern African Research Centre, Queen’s University and Honorary Professor, University of Cape Town Presentation to Conference on “Africa’s New Frontier: Innovation, Technology, Prosperity” Ottawa, 4 February 2010

Outline of Presentation 1. Diaspora Networking 1. Diaspora Networking 2. Dimensions of African Diaspora in Canada 2. Dimensions of African Diaspora in Canada 3. Building Canadian-African Knowledge Networks 3. Building Canadian-African Knowledge Networks 4. Conclusions 4. Conclusions

1. Diaspora Networks Diasporas are defined less by what they are than by what they do and, in principle, “what they do” consists of building networks over national borders (UNESCO 2009).

1. Diaspora Networking Diaspora networks and associations of migrants have come to stand at the centre of the optimistic visions of Diaspora networks and associations of migrants have come to stand at the centre of the optimistic visions of national and international economic development policy (Faist 2008) African global networks provide one social institution that “translates the experience of increased global integration into a language that makes some sense to a wide range of African global networks provide one social institution that “translates the experience of increased global integration into a language that makes some sense to a wide range of Africans living in a diffuse set of locations” (UNESCO) Africans living in a diffuse set of locations” (UNESCO) Diaspora networks are the latest “bridge institutions” connecting developing economy insiders to outsiders in command of knowledge, technical know-how and investment capital (World Bank) Diaspora networks are the latest “bridge institutions” connecting developing economy insiders to outsiders in command of knowledge, technical know-how and investment capital (World Bank)

Some Forms of Diaspora Networking Migrants are using IT – , forums, blogs, websites, social networking – to get and stay connected with their countries of origin. However, forging a network and consolidating its capacity for collective action over time requires more than just being connected (UNESCO). Migrants are using IT – , forums, blogs, websites, social networking – to get and stay connected with their countries of origin. However, forging a network and consolidating its capacity for collective action over time requires more than just being connected (UNESCO). Creation of global networks by African countries to “reach out” to diasporas for development (e.g. South African Network of Skills Abroad (SANSA). Creation of global networks by African countries to “reach out” to diasporas for development (e.g. South African Network of Skills Abroad (SANSA). Creation of networks within diaspora to work for development in Africa (e.g. Global South Africans – a network of the “1000 best minds”) Creation of networks within diaspora to work for development in Africa (e.g. Global South Africans – a network of the “1000 best minds”) National networks (country-country e.g. GhanaWeb) or country-continent (e.g. ADAC) National networks (country-country e.g. GhanaWeb) or country-continent (e.g. ADAC) Business associations e.g. Canada-South Africa Chamber of Business Business associations e.g. Canada-South Africa Chamber of Business Social networking groups e.g. Facebook Groups (South-Africans in Canada, Mauritians in Canada, Zambians in Canada etc), LinkedIn (e.g. Canada-South Africa Fellowship) Social networking groups e.g. Facebook Groups (South-Africans in Canada, Mauritians in Canada, Zambians in Canada etc), LinkedIn (e.g. Canada-South Africa Fellowship) Knowledge networks – partnerships between Canadian diaspora and African organizations and networks Knowledge networks – partnerships between Canadian diaspora and African organizations and networks

2. Dimensions of African Diaspora in Canada Some studies of particular country diasporas (e.g. Canada- Ethiopia (AHEAD), Canada-Ghana) Some studies of particular country diasporas (e.g. Canada- Ethiopia (AHEAD), Canada-Ghana) Need for larger picture and profile of the African diaspora in Canada as a whole. Numbers are significant and growing. Need for larger picture and profile of the African diaspora in Canada as a whole. Numbers are significant and growing.

Top 12 source countries make up 75% of African migrant stock in Canada

Migrant stock (first generation): 88,000. Large number of professionals, highly skilled. Study in Progress of SADC Diaspora by SAMP (Southern African Migration Program) – Canadian-African research and policy network – funded by IRC

Aims of Study Generate a Profile of the SADC diaspora in Canada Generate a Profile of the SADC diaspora in Canada Degree and types of engagement of members of the diaspora with Africa (e.g. remitting and investment behaviour, skills and knowledge transfer) Degree and types of engagement of members of the diaspora with Africa (e.g. remitting and investment behaviour, skills and knowledge transfer) Identification of enhanced opportunities for government-diaspora partnerships in promoting African development Identification of enhanced opportunities for government-diaspora partnerships in promoting African development

Activities Census and immigration data to build socio-economic and demographic profile Census and immigration data to build socio-economic and demographic profile Data base of diaspora organizations and activities (international – ADAC; bilateral – AHEAD; community – ‘Help Lesotho’, ‘c4L’, ‘Women for women’) Data base of diaspora organizations and activities (international – ADAC; bilateral – AHEAD; community – ‘Help Lesotho’, ‘c4L’, ‘Women for women’) Data base of diaspora social networking groups (e.g. web groups, Facebook groups, Linked In groups) Data base of diaspora social networking groups (e.g. web groups, Facebook groups, Linked In groups) Survey of individual diaspora members – profile, migration experience, linkages, participation in diaspora organizations/activities, remitting behaviour, likelihood of return ( Survey of individual diaspora members – profile, migration experience, linkages, participation in diaspora organizations/activities, remitting behaviour, likelihood of return (

Accessing the Diaspora Through Social Media

3. Building Canadian-African Knowledge Networks Institutional networking as means of enhancing the role of the diaspora in development Institutional networking as means of enhancing the role of the diaspora in development Diaspora academics in Canadian universities forging institutional networks with African universities, NGOs, governments Diaspora academics in Canadian universities forging institutional networks with African universities, NGOs, governments African Food Security Urban Network (AFSUN) African Food Security Urban Network (AFSUN)

CANADA - QUEENS (LEAD) RYERSON CALGARY GUELPH UWO CIDA PARTNERSHIP BRANCH POLICY Municipal Development Partnership (MDPESA) South African Cities Network (SACN) COMMUNITY Care Southern Africa Food and Trees for Africa Idasa ABC Ulwazi SOUTH AFRICA – Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN (LEAD) WITS UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU NATAL BOTSWANA – Gaborone UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA LESOTHO – Maseru NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LESOTHO MALAWI – Blantyre UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI MOZAMBIQUE – Maputo EDUARDO MONDLANE UNIVERSITY NAMIBIA – Windhoek UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA SWAZILAND – Manzini UNIVERSITY OF SWAZILAND ZAMBIA - Lusaka UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE - Harare UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE TRAINING / RESEARCH

AFSUN Aims & Objectives AFSUN Aims & Objectives Establishing partnerships between Canada and Africa and between different African countries to promote a comparative perspective on urban food security and a coordinated regional response; Establishing partnerships between Canada and Africa and between different African countries to promote a comparative perspective on urban food security and a coordinated regional response; Building individual and organizational capacity within African institutions to respond to the challenges of urban food insecurity; Building individual and organizational capacity within African institutions to respond to the challenges of urban food insecurity; Providing policy advice and facilitating policy dialogue between researchers and policy-makers at the international, regional, national and municipal levels; Providing policy advice and facilitating policy dialogue between researchers and policy-makers at the international, regional, national and municipal levels; Equipping municipal officials in African cities with the tools to understand and respond to the policy challenges of urban food security in their cities; Equipping municipal officials in African cities with the tools to understand and respond to the policy challenges of urban food security in their cities; Capacitating community change agents to design, implement, monitor and evaluate projects and programmes that will enhance the food security of urban populations Capacitating community change agents to design, implement, monitor and evaluate projects and programmes that will enhance the food security of urban populations

Conclusions Knowledge about African diaspora networks within Canada and connecting Canada to Africa is limited Knowledge about African diaspora networks within Canada and connecting Canada to Africa is limited Diaspora networks are a potentially strong actor in development and governments need to engage with and support these networks and their activities Diaspora networks are a potentially strong actor in development and governments need to engage with and support these networks and their activities The potential of social media networking as a development “agent” need further exploration The potential of social media networking as a development “agent” need further exploration Diaspora knowledge networks and network partnerships have great potential for supporting development initiatives in Africa Diaspora knowledge networks and network partnerships have great potential for supporting development initiatives in Africa