Main area: Migration
Theme: Engagement with diaspora
Assessment: ODA-eligible
Provider country: Italy
Recipient country: Egypt
Implementing agency: International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
Budget (EUR million): 0.5
Year(s): 2019-2021
Purpose code: 16010 Social / welfare services
Case number: Migration / 25
Initiatives for local development of Egypt through the support of Egyptians abroad (ILDEA)
Egypt’s diaspora counts more than 10 million expatriates around the world, it is therefore paramount to reduce barriers to expatriates’ engagement and actively involve the Egyptian diaspora in the development plans of the country in order to harness their knowledge, networks and expertise. Within Europe, Italy is the main country of destination of Egyptians and the main source country of remittances to Egypt.
The overall objective of the project is to support the Egyptian Government (GoE) to consolidate efforts in engaging Egyptian expatriates in the development of the country. This is achieved by developing a strategic approach to dialogue and engagement with Egyptian expatriates in the context of a new policy framework, as well as by enhancing the national capacities for promoting investment and trade opportunities to/with Egypt through the engagement of Egyptian expatriate communities.
Main activities: i) organising workshops and conferences for relevant stakeholders to discuss the policy, strategy and action plan on diaspora engagement; ii) supporting skills enhancement for GoE officials on trade facilitation, investment promotion and expatriate engagement; iii) support the Egyptian Ministry for Egyptian Expatriates to develop a communication strategy/plan with expatriates; iv) organising workshops on mobilising remittances towards socio-economic and human development in Egypt; v) engaging Egyptian expatriate communities in Italy in the implementation of income-generating and employment promotion projects in Upper Egypt.
The first National Strategy for Expatriates Engagement in Egypt was developed through an inclusive and participatory process and the involvement of a diversified group of public and private stakeholders.
This activity is deemed ODA-eligible. The project aims at strengthening the positive impact that the Egyptian diaspora community can have on Egypt’s development and responds to a primary developmental objective. The support to the Egyptian Government in defining its strategic approach to diaspora engagement constitutes a direct support to a developing country for a developmental purpose. The engagement with Egyptian diaspora in Italy pursues the objective to involve diaspora in income-generating and employment promotion activities in Egypt with a clear developmental focus and is also eligible as per Criterion 8.
This work was approved and declassified by the Development Assistance Committee’s Working Party on Development Finance Statistics.
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