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April Inspiration: Activating the Potential of Diaspora Partnerships
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Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Now, more than ever, there is a need for connection as well as creative, collaborative processes. On April 1, ADN partnered with Skoll Foundation to host the Skoll World Forum Ecosystem Event: The Role of Africans in the Diaspora to Help Develop the African Economy. Our first virtual event garnered a high level of interest and we were at capacity with engaged participants from Africa, Asia, Europe, and USA. The fruitful conversations on diaspora partnerships were inspiring as we look ahead to the future of the continent and the communities where we live.
Thank you to all our participants for your time, presence, and enthusiasm. We send a special thank you to Professor Liesl Riddle of The George Washington University for sharing her invaluable insights and expertise on the session topic. In this newsletter, we provide a summary of the event, links to the virtual event Zoom recording, and research papers by Professor Riddle and Almaz Negash, as cited in the virtual forum.
Like many of you, ADN is adopting to the times we live in and we will continue our work virtually and convene Africans, Diasporans, and friends of Africa online. In the days to come, we will share dates for the upcoming ADN Impact & Innovation Virtual Forums. We appreciate your involvement, particularly in these unprecedented times.
As ADN pivots to engage the network through remote channels, we seek to continue to provide support and resources to our members. We have curated a list of public resources, including trusted health-related sources and opportunities for financial support for small businesses. This is just a start. If there are additional resources that you would like to share, please contact us.
Thank you,
Almaz Negash
Founder & Executive Director, African Diaspora Network
Executive in Residence, School of Global Innovation & Leadership, SJSU
Member of the United Nations Economic Council for Africa – HLPM |
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ADN Partners with Skoll Foundation for Virtual Skoll World Forum Ecosystem Event on April 1
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The Role of Africans in the Diaspora to Help Develop the African Economy
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On April 1, African Diaspora Network partnered with the Skoll Foundation to host a virtual meeting convening Africans, Diasporans, and friends of Africa. The Skoll World Forum Ecosystem Event: The Role of Africans in the Diaspora to Help Develop the African Economy garnered a high level of interest and we were at capacity with engaged participants from Africa, Asia, Europe, and USA. The session featured Almaz Negash, founder and executive director of African Diaspora Network, and Professor Liesl Riddle, associate dean of graduate programs and associate professor of international business and international affairs at The George Washington University.
The meeting began by welcoming our participants from around the world, who we invited to share their goals and questions for the session. Participants expressed interest in increased connections and insight on Africa’s future, how to leverage the power of diaspora and increase resilience in these uncertain times, and what collective action can be taken by Diasporans to move the economy of the continent.
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Almaz introduced the work of ADN and provided context on the widespread presence and contributions of the diaspora, particularly via remittances. Professor Liesl Riddle explored the role of diaspora beyond remittances, citing other means of investment including tourism, philanthropy, skills transfer, and direct investment. Both hosts cited the sustainable development goals as essential guides on shaping a development approach to Africa.
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A Call to Action: 2020 Builders of Africa's Future
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Support Ugandan Families with BAF Fellow Joan Nalubega, Uganics
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Over the coming days and weeks, we will share with you verified COVID-19 Related Calls to Action that we believe will make a difference in the lives people in Africa and the communities in which we live.
Builders of Africa's Future 2020 Awardee Joan Nalubega of Uganics is partnering with Social Innovation Academy to launch a crowdfunding campaign to support families facing poverty in the Mpigi district in Uganda. Joan lives in the rural Mpigi District, where the impact of the COVID-19 situation has become dire. Uganda implemented a lockdown that has limited the income of many families in the Mpigi district. Support BAF fellow Joan Nalubega and help families in Uganda through food donations.
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Joan Rukundo Nalubega, Founder, Uganics
Uganics is a Ugandan social business contributing to a malaria free world. Nalubega struggled with malaria growing up in a rural orphanage. After completing high school, she decided to turn her pain into an opportunity by fighting malaria. She has been featured on Al Jazeera, awarded Champions of Science Africa Innovation Challenge 2.0 2019, won the Anzisha Prize 2018 as 2nd Runner Up, recognized by Initiative Teilen (Germany) and TEF in 2017. She was a mentor and Keynote speaker for the Anzisha Prize 2019 and was a guest at the Africa Innovation Summit 2018.
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Amplifying the Builders of Africa's Future 2020
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We are delighted to spotlight the work of the 2020 Builders of Africa's Future. Here are four changemakers on the continent. If you are compelled by what they do and want to invest in them, please let us know. They need all the support they can get to grow and scale their businesses, especially in this difficult time. |
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Lou Louis Koboji, Founder/Director Kajo Keji Health Training Institute
Lou Louis Koboji believes that South Sudan’s health system will be greatly strengthened through educating health workers at KKHTI. Lou Louis Koboj was born in South Sudan and grew as a refugee in Uganda. In addition to being one of African Visionary Fellows in Segal Family Foundation, Lou has also completed the Perennial Fellowship, Unreasonable East Africa’s Fellowship, and the United Nation Alliance for Civilization Fellowship. Lou was awarded with the Segal Family Foundation raising star award 2019 in New Jersey City.
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Innocent Magambi, Executive Director -There Is Hope
A refugee from birth, Innocent spend the first 27 years of his life in five refugee camps in four Eastern and Southern Africa. Despite facing much hurt along his journey, he never allowed the adversity to define him or to determine his destiny. Instead he became a change agent for fellow refugees and the host community in Malawi. Against all odds, he founded There is Hope, an organisation that aims at mitigating the effects of long-term displacement among refugees and generational poverty among Malawians by providing access to education (secondary school sponsorship for girls, university bursaries and vocational training), job creation through social enterprise Kibebe, leadership development and advocacy for refugee rights.
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Nkanyiso Madlala, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Energy Efficiency (Pty) Ltd
Nkanyiso is an Energy Efficiency & Intelligent Lighting connoisseur with five years experience having worked alongside Government, Municipalities, Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation Aficionados. He has been selected to Innovate Durban and is a participant of the prestigious Redbull Amaphiko Academy | 2019/20 | Redbull Amaphiko is a global programme that champions social entr epreneurs driving positive change in their corner of the world. Is part of the Durban Chemicals Cluster 2020 accelerator.
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Diana Wilson, Yielding Accomplished African Women
Diana Wilson is a vibrant, articulate, and highly successful 23-year-old social entrepreneur, marketing strategist at Google, activist and global speaker. She was recognized as the 'Next Black Female Mark Zuckerberg' via Face2Face Africa. She has gone viral for her achievements via MTV and LinkedIn. She is a published author, being featured in We Will Lead Africa. A book that complies the stories of 32 top African female leaders today. All the same, Diana Wilson started from humble beginnings. She is the product of a diligent single mother, prayer and a constructive community of Newark, NJ.
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ADN Virtual Impact & Innovation Forums 2020
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African Diaspora Network convenes Africans, diasporans, and friends of Africa from across sectors ranging from government to business to NGOs to academia in order to strengthen partnerships and to advance the development of the African continent. Throughout the year, ADN gathers at key national and international hubs of influence, including Silicon Valley, the center of innovation and entrepreneurship; New York; the center of finance; and Washington D.C., the center of diplomacy and policy.
The ADN Impact & Innovation Forums bring together leaders from the private and public sectors, policymakers, philanthropists, academia, and NGO to share ideas on ways to strengthen diaspora engagement.
2020 Topics include
- Healthcare, Innovation, & Investment
- Entrepreneurship and Access to Capital
- Human Capital Development in Africa
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Online Resources During COVID-19
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Support for U.S.-based Small Business: CARES Act
Qualifying U.S.-based small business owners can determine their eligibility for financial support through the CARES Act.
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Free Virtual College Courses
Find 54 free online courses provided by top-ranked colleges in the United States, including Princeton University, Harvard University, and Columbia University. Topics include Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies, Making Government Work in Hard Places, and Computer Science for Business Professionals.
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Virtual Learning Resources
Nordic countries have opened up their e-learning solutions to the world for free. Take a look at 40+ remote learning solutions from Estonia, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden that are welcome to help teachers and parents. |
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Take the Online Amplifying Abundance in Africa MasterClass Series
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Interested in learning more about African Diaspora Investment Symposium? Seeking professional development and learning opportunities remotely? ADN welcomes you to our online repository of workshop sessions from ADIS2019.
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Are you an entrepreneur, business leader, investor, or public sector leader interested in the hottest trends on the Continent and in the Diaspora? Want to learn more about starting or scaling your business and/or investments?
Here’s your chance to dive deep into some of the hottest investment and development trends on the continent from thought leaders, business leaders, innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, academia, government, and NGO leaders from around the world.
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African Diaspora Investment Symposium (ADIS) is an annual convening in Silicon Valley that celebrates and champions the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of Africans in the Diaspora and friends of Africa.
Follow the footsteps of entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders who have walked the path of pursuing investments and opportunities in Africa through Investment Ecosystem and Entrepreneurship & Innovation Ecosystems.
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Join African Diaspora Network Today
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Be a part of our growing organization and become a member or support African Diaspora Network in one of the following ways:
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- Be an organizational sponsor and support the African Diaspora Network to bring together diverse people from around the world to collaborate and work together.
- Sponsor the 2021 African Diaspora Investment Symposium
- Support our efforts to scale the Builders of Africa’s Future program
- Be a member of the African Diaspora Network, a growing community of Africans and friends of Africa
- Be a mentor for the upcoming Builders of Africa’s Future cohort
- Be a volunteer and support African Diaspora Network initiatives
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African Diaspora Investment Symposium Summary and Next Steps
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African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2020 Highlights
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African Diaspora Network is pleased to share a full summary and action report that highlights key takeaways and lessons learned during African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2020. Learn more about our fifth annual symposium theme, read our day-by-day summary, check out our photo gallery, and view our video recap.
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African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2020 - Important Links
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Upcoming Community Partner Events
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International Trade Administration & USG Partner Webinars
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Visit our website
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