December Update

This month we share updates regarding our participants, CD4D in Iraq and the ED4D project.

Number of assignments

For the month of December, seven CD4D participants started their assignments. One went to Sierra Leone, four to Somalia, one to Afghanistan, and one to Ethiopia. We also welcomed back three of our participants, of whom one is from Ethiopia and two from Somalia.

strengthen leadership among young people in fragile states. IOM The Netherlands hosted a workshop on the Global Migration Film Festival during which the “CD4D in Afghanistan” documentary was shown and discussed about as well. Alain Nkurikiye, Founder of Wajenzi, and Jawid Dehpoor, KEIHAN Foundation, represented IOM and CD4D in Afghanistan respectively. The themes revolved around migrant entrepreneurship and the importance of diaspora contributions.

CD4D Iraq: Private Sector Orientation Session

On 15 December, IOM organized an information event for professionals in the Netherlands with an Iraqi background. Participants learned about the investment opportunities in their country of origin as told by the Private Sector Development Manager at the Chamber of Commerce in Erbil, and an IOM officer in Iraq. With the CD4D in Iraq project officially launched, candidates can soon submit their business applications and receive the chance to conduct a fully organized go-and-see mission to Iraq.

Success Story: Ibrahim Kamara

Ibrahim Kamara is a Development Studies and Business Administration expert. After his studies at Wageningen University, he continued his professional career in the Netherlands. When he heard about the CD4D project, he was eager to contribute his skills and knowledge to his motherland of Sierra Leone. In fact, he had the opportunity to train the trainers at the first university he attended in Freetown.

Presenting ED4D: Entrepreneurship by Diaspora for Development

The inception phase of the ED4D project has taken its course and was very fruitful in terms of introductory meetings with potential partners and representatives of diaspora organizations.

As a matter of illustration, Mrs Debritu Mogese, an Ethiopian entrepreneur, has agreed to assist IOM to connect to the Ethiopian community and more particularly to the recently established Ethiopian Professional Network. She is an active member on IOM’s iDiaspora network, which is a global engagement and knowledge exchange hub for diaspora communities. IOM has also been invited by the Young Ghanaian Professionals Network (YGP) to briefly present the ED4D project at their inspiring end of the year event that was focused on “The key to setting goals and achieving them”. These connections illustrate the importance of actively involving diaspora organizations for a successful implementation of the program.