Diaspora commits to support sustainable blue economy

The diaspora remains a critical mass whose contributions to the global economy is immense, and which, if well harnessed, is a crucial demographic dividend for national development and international solidarity. This is more so beyond the traditional diaspora engagement strategies whose main target is focus on remittances, especially in developing countries.

One such area is the blue economy which lends itself to themes that correspond to human activities on oceans, seas, lakes and rivers such as shipping, fishing, oil drilling, aquaculture, irrigation, leisure, desalination, waste management, or catchment management.

In the Diaspora Forum 2018 organized by the Directorate of Diaspora Affairs, National Diaspora Council of Kenya (NADICOK), University of Nairobi, United States International University-Africa, and International Organization for Migration, as part of the first ever Sustainable Blue Economy Conference which was held in Nairobi in November 26-28, 2018, underscored diaspora’s potential contributions to trade, investment and business development, skills and knowledge creation and sharing as well as advocacy for good governance and leadership in support of sustainable blue economy.

Some of the keynote speakers included Hon. Ababu Namwamba, Chief Administrative Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya; Prof. Peter Mbithi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi; Prof. Paul Zeleza, VC of the United States International University-Africa, Mr. Michael Phillinger, the Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration; Prof. Gibril Fall, Professor of Practice at the London School of Economics, Dr. Emmanuel Mutisya Chair of NADICOK among others.

Kenya diaspora

The more than 350 participants from several countries were drawn from various areas including; governments, international organizations, private sector, academia, and civil society organizations.

The Forum’s deliberations focused on the various entry points of the diaspora support of sustainable blue economy. The first entry point is that of remittances which is the commonest in most countries who are receiving substantial amounts from their diaspora.

For instance, Kenya diaspora, the 48th County, remitted $2.5 billion in 2018 which is a 25 percent increase and accounts for 3.7 percent of the GDP, by far the largest foreign exchange earner to the country.

The purpose of these remittances has grown over time beyond consumption towards trade, investment and capital formation, and these investments can be expanded to the blue economy.

The second entry point is that of leveraging on diaspora networks for exchange and transfer of knowledge, skills and innovations. The diaspora possesses knowledge and skills that can be harnessed in developing the blue economy at home.  Skills and expertise acquired in ocean oil fields overseas, for example, can be invested in ensuring blue economy sustainable development.

Blue economy

The third entry point is that of promoting advocacy in support of blue economy development. Different diaspora groups advocate and mobilize resources on behalf of waterways, catchment areas, waste treatment, marine life.  However, taken together, these efforts form a lobby for the blue economy and they become the voice of the blue economy.

Accentuating the role of diaspora in promoting sustainable development, the discussions recapitulated the opportunities inherent in the blue economy for the diaspora. Partnership between the diaspora and other stakeholders in blue economy development will bring about good practices, unique expertise and networks acquired in their countries of origin to sustainably exploit blue economy resources.

The in-depth discussions yielded diaspora’s commitments in sustainable blue economy encompassing; their promotion of sustainable exploitation of blue economy resources in support of the UN sustainable development goals, AU’s Agenda 2063 of the Africa We Want, and the national development visions and agenda in their countries origin and residence; support public and private investments; promote the acquisition of knowledge and skills; and bolster advocacy, become a voice of reason and form a lobby to advance the goals of a sustainable blue economy.

The implementation of this commitments forms part of the overall outcome of the global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference and is a precursor to global diaspora role in preparation for the Ocean Conference in Portugal in 2020. The diaspora must continue take lead.

Mr Mutisya is the Chairman, National Diaspora Council of Kenya