Abidjan – From 11 to 16 September 2024, Paris and Lyon hosted an innovative awareness-raising campaign dedicated to the Ivorian diaspora in France. This initiative, organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, is part of the ENGORA (Engagement and Diaspora) project, which seeks to make the Ivorian diaspora a key player in the sustainable development of Côte d’Ivoire. IOM, aware of the diaspora’s potential to play a role in the economic development of their country of origin, aims to support stakeholders’ commitment to bringing about significant change.

As a national project, ENGORA is one of a series of initiatives by the Ivorian Government to increase engagement of citizens living abroad in national development. In France, where there is a significant Ivorian community, ENGORA aims to harness talent and skills to achieve sustainable development goals. The campaign focused on mapping skills in the diaspora, a crucial tool for optimising these resources in key sectors for the country. The data collected will be used to draw up a detailed socio-economic profile of the Ivorian community in France and identify the sectors where their contribution could have the greatest impact.

With diaspora engagement as a core component in IOM’s 2024-2028 strategic plan for collaborative solutions, a key objective of the campaign was to raise diaspora awareness about investment opportunities in Côte d’Ivoire while strengthening dialogue between the diaspora and Government.

The ENGORA project aims to establish a regular dialogue between the diaspora and Ivorian authorities. This collaborative framework will enable the diaspora to better understand the country’s needs and mobilise its skills in the public and private sectors. An action-oriented dialogue paves the way for stronger partnerships and investment in priority areas for Côte d’Ivoire.

“I encourage the Ivorian diaspora to get involved in this project and thus contribute to the development of our country of origin, each according to his or her abilities,” said His Excellency the First Counsellor of the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in Paris on 15 September 2024.

The campaign brought together around 80 representatives of Ivorian diaspora associations. The discussions led to a number of recommendations, including better communication about Government initiatives and enhanced coordination to ensure equitable access to investment and development opportunities.

The ENGORA project demonstrates the growing determination of the Ivorian Government and its partners to harness the diaspora’s potential to support national development. This campaign marks a crucial step towards stronger collaboration between the Ivorian diaspora in France and their country of origin, with promising prospects for investment and skills transfer.

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For more information, please contact:

Ms Emma MASABO, OIM Côte d’Ivoire, Email: emasabo@iom.int