1. Presentation to Department for International Development (DFID) By AfricaRecruit 11 th August 2005

2. About AfricaRecruit AfricaRecruit is a programme of AU/NEPAD,Commonwealth &CBC connecting the Diaspora to Africa and Africa to the Diaspora Facilitate & enable capacity building using the Diaspora as one of the main drivers Channel resources (skills or investment) through secondary or tertiary avenues, while they remain in the Diaspora Strengthening human resources capacity in Africa Inform policy making process “The numerous current initiatives in Africa require high-level scientific technological and managerial skills. The question is where are the skills going to come from. Our answer is that from Africans in the Diaspora and the rest of the world. The training of new graduates will take at least a generation or longer but the skills are needed now if further deepening of poverty and marginlisation is to be reverse. This is the rationale for AfricaRecruit project” Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, Chairman New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Steering Committee March 2005

3. Structure of AfricaRecruit AfricaRecruit Events, Policy Best practice HR capacity Findajobinafrica Brain Drain Brain circulation Skills Retention Africa Diaspora Diaspora Investment Remittances Investments

4. Aims and Objectives of AfricaRecruit Mobilise, enhance and enable engagement of Diaspora skills in Africa Facilitating information and opportunity access to jobs- online and offline Strengthening Human Resource Capacity in Africa Facilitating, Identifying and Disseminating Human Resources Best Practice- online and offline Informing policy development Mobilise, enhance and enable Diaspora investment in Africa Enabling, Informing and Enhancing Foreign Direct Investments in Africa by the Diaspora community – remittances, trade and investments Informing policy and operational "When AfricaRecruit was launched in 2002, I provided an endorsement in the firm belief that its objectives were not only noble but also realizable. Since then, the initiative has performed creditably and become a key part of the NEPAD programme to mobilize quality skills for Africa.“ H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairperson of the African Union

5. Outcomes of AfricaRecruit Indicators Increasing number of Diaspora returnees, enquiries and web stats Increasing number of open jobs for recruitment- retention of local skills Increasing number of employers adopting strategy enabling them to target local and international candidates Increasing calls for recruitment fairs Decreasing reliance on experts More organisations investing in workforce More organisations adopting best practice Investments by the Diaspora Recommendations Policy level Mobility of critical skills within Africa Development of ToR for investors to reflect building and transfer of skills Partnership level for AfricaRecruit Develop extensive skills database Africa Virtual HR Forum Facilitate Africa Skills Development agency Mobilise more Diaspora using ICT Knowledge management and research

6. Sierra Leone Consultative & Investment Forum

7. Aim Create a stimulating and interactive environment in which delegates and speakers could table issues challenges and opportunities for engagement in Sierra Leone  Influence or develop national, regional and international policies and strategies for the promotion of investment and Diaspora involvement in Sierra Leone  Engage the Sierra Leone Diaspora in conceiving innovative solutions to the challenges presented  Develop an action plan, detailing the steps to be taken by whom and by when.  Promote an understanding and appreciation of the challenges

8. Process – Organisation and Facilitation Use various on and off line tools Engaging with groups/individuals Pre-conference with targeted focus group Feedback Refining Setting the agenda Event Feedback Final report

9. Website Database E-groups Emails E-news letters Links with target websites Mobilisation Targeted over 2,000 Sierra Leonean’s and related stakeholders Mobilisation of about 350 delegates Mobilisation of a diverse group of delegates Online Word of mouth face to face contact Phone calls Post Socio-Religious events and networks Professionals and Business networks Sports events Reverse leads and networks High Commission Offline

10. Publicity Radio Web Pre conference press release to over 1,200 media organisations -CNN (Inside Africa) Post-conference press releases- AfricaRecruit & Sierra Leone High Commission NEPAD Newsletter Ben TV

11. Challenges Mistrust of: Fellow nationals- past history Sierra Leone Government Business and Investment Climate in Sierra Leone Donor agencies Perception of the Sierra Leone Diaspora on their role Past experiences of previous events and meetings with no outcomes Promoting self-agenda Cost of attending by Nationals outside UK Inability to attend due visa refusal ( other parts of Europe) Timing Personal reason

12. BenTV- about us In Diaspora is a Live discussion and interactive programme on BEN Television (Sky 184) hosted by ‘Jide Iyaniwura. Cuts across the Diaspora Community Provides the platform for stakeholders engagement with the Diaspora community Previous Guests include: African High Commissioners, Hilary Ben MP, CAFOD, Chairperson AU, NEPAD, AfricaRecruit, Africa Business Roundtable, Oxfam,Ministers from Africa, Diaspora Groups etc

13. Planned Projects The Africa Forum – Inward Looking Monthly Television Programme Audience: Africans in Diaspora Key African Stakeholders (DFID, Africa Commission, AFFORD) Starts: End of August / Beginning September Africa Diaspora – Outward Looking Series of television documentaries showcasing the work of institutions like DFID, Africa Commission, AU/NEPAD, AfricaRecruit Start: Beginning January 2006.

14. Support for the Sierra Leone Day 3 live programmes in sequence Programmes split into 3 phases: Interview with one of the events planner / DFID official Interview with Sierra Leone Diaspora group Interview with Sierra Leone Acting High Commissioner Over 100 calls recorded per programme Most visitors to the 4 th June event mentioned having watched the programmes More than 50 post programme calls requesting more of the same programme Planned follow up to disseminate outcomes and way forward

15. Outputs-Outcomes Points of discussion: Diaspora Perception Infrastructure Governance Investment Capacity Building Action plan: Government of Sierra Leone Private sector International community Diaspora Evaluation

16. Sierra Leone Diaspora- Present Meetings held thus far: frequency of/some topics of discussion/constraints/commitments Yahoo Group; Draft Vision – some elements of; Web Portal (SLIP) – how it links into and mirrors the Network; Chatham House – and spin-off; Engagements - e.g. Aminata Palmer; Feedback from community

17. Sierra Leone Diaspora- Next Steps Database March 2006 Sierra Leone Input into Task Force/other SL linking bodies/representation of SL Diaspora Africa Diaspora Investment advice/requests for assistance – “proud to be SL” ICF Future one-to-ones with DFID

18. Thank you AfricaRecruit 18 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5LU United Kingdom Tel: +44(0)20 7024 270 Fax: +44(0)20 7024 8201 E-mail: info@africarecruit.com info@africarecruit.com Website: www.africarecruit.com www.africarecruit.com