Rwanda Day is an indication that the Diaspora matters just as much

THE SIXTH edition of Rwanda Day is here – this time, thousands of Rwandans as well as friends of Rwanda living in the United States will convene in Atlanta, Georgia on September 20 2014, to celebrate 20 years of our country’s liberation, and to reflect on the progress made thus far. In addition, this will be an opportunity for Rwandans living in the United States and beyond to engage with a delegation of top government officials to be led by President Paul Kagame together with a significant number of business leaders to debate and find solutions to the development challenges that Rwanda still faces. Of course, the way that different diaspora communities engage with their homeland varies, with varying impact on the ground. However, a series of Rwanda Day events that have taken place over the last few years in Chicago, Paris, London, Boston, and Toronto, indicate that ties that bind Rwandans living abroad to their homeland are as strong. In effect, it is these strong ties that have made it possible for Rwandans in the diaspora to continue contributing to the country’s development journey in many different ways including through financial capital, intellectual capital, political capital, cultural capital, and social capital. What does the Diaspora community bring to the table? Over the last few decades, there has been growing recognition of the contributions made by Rwandan diaspora communities in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, in particular, through financial transfers. Remittances which are transfers of money, goods and diverse traits by migrants or migrant groups back to their countries of origin or citizenship have contributed greatly to the global development agenda. Some experts even believe that remittances outstrip donor aid by way of making a real difference in the lives of many in developing countries. For instance, on a macro level, remittances are an important source of global development finance, contributing to the Gross National Product of many countries. And on a micro level, remittances provide a safety net by acting as an informal welfare state for many in developing countries. For instance, remittance statistics provided by the National Bank of Rwanda indicate that over $46 million was sent by Rwandans living abroad from July 2012 to June 2013 alone to support many families, businesses and communities in the country. In addition to providing a much needed cash flow to run households, Rwandans in the diaspora have sent money home to build houses and start businesses in the country – activities that have contributed greatly to the creation of jobs in the private sector. Remittances of cash and goods also allow recipients in Rwanda to engage in trade and other economic activities which greatly contribute to economic development. In fact, although fees levied on remittances remain high, World Bank figures show that in 2010 alone, an estimated $40 billion was remitted to Sub-Saharan Africa, and this figure is based only on money transferred through official channels. When taking informal methods of sending of money such as physical cash transactions, the true figure is likely to be in excess of $60 billion. Remittances, however, are far from being the only vehicle for diaspora influence on the incidence of Rwanda’s development. As well as providing remittances, Rwandans living abroad are a major source of foreign direct investment, market development, technology transfer, philanthropy, tourism, political contributions, and more intangible flows of knowledge, new attitudes, and cultural influence. There are many experienced and skilled Rwandans in diaspora who would be willing to contribute for a defined period. Their expertise could have far-reaching positive effects, not only in the service sector such as health and education, but also in promoting a viable business environment. In practice, to move skills from where they can be found to where they are sought is not a simple process. Fulfilling this objective entails improving access to information on job opportunities, but also improving the match between skills and available jobs, and providing for the evaluation and recognition of qualifications and experience obtained abroad. With that said, it is encouraging to see that Rwanda Day 2014 in Atlanta will be hosting the first ever career fair abroad. The writer is a UK Parliamentary Intern and holds a Master of Science in Public Services Policy.

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Rwanda Day is an indication that the Diaspora matters just as much