ADC-USA Hosts Groundbreaking Online Summit, Uniting Organizations for Africa’s Development and Diaspora Collaboration

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On Thursday, the African Diaspora Collective USA (ADC-USA) hosted a momentous one-day online summit, titled “Partnering with Africa: Leveraging the African Diaspora for Development. The event, held on May 24, brought together a diverse range of organizations dedicated to fostering Africa’s development and collaboration with the African diaspora. Together they explored strategies for utilizing the African diaspora’s resources and expertise to drive Africa’s progress and strengthen ties with African descendant communities in the United States.

Summit poster

Representatives from numerous organizations, including NAPAC, Ace Foods, The United African Alliance, Youth Aiding Humanity Inc, Caritas Zimbabwe, Science and Advanced Global Innovation Technologies (SAGIT), Africans in America For Restitution And Repatriation, and many more, participated in the summit. With such a broad representation, the event showcased the collective commitment to collaboration and driving Africa’s development agenda.

The Former First Lady of the Ivory Coast Mme Simone Gbagbo, H.E. Professor Kaire Mbuende the Namibian

Ambassador to Brussels, H.E. Asmau Benzies Leo, and Member of the Pan-African Parliament Hon. McHenry Venaani, as well as American public officials US Rep. Oye Owolowa (District of Columbia), Honorable Rep. Naquetta Ricks (Colorado) were among other prominent policymakers. They highlighted the significance of leveraging the African diaspora’s skills and resources across various sectors, including trade, agriculture, technology, and education. The speakers emphasized the transformative potential of harnessing the African diaspora’s expertise, knowledge, and investment to drive Africa’s growth.

Throughout the day, panel discussions and interactive sessions facilitated engaging conversations, allowing participants to exchange ideas and best practices. The summit emphasized the potential of initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), diaspora ministries, the African Union, and the Pan-African Parliament as avenues for collaboration and unity.

One notable speech [PDF] delivered at the summit was by the President of the Pan African Parliament, Honorable Chief Fortune Charumbira, represented in absentia by Honorable McHenry Venaani of Namibia. The speech emphasized the importance of connecting the African Diaspora through policy and collaboration between the Pan African Parliament and the African Diaspora Collective.

Honorable McHenry Venaani of Namibia, MP in the Pan-African Parliament participates in the African Diaspora Partnership Summit online.

The President of the Pan African Parliament discussed [PDF] the evolution and mandate of the Parliament, emphasizing its role in promoting human rights, democracy, good governance, economic cooperation, and regional integration. The speech recognized the African Diaspora as an essential missing ingredient in Africa’s economic and political architecture, with over 170 million individuals globally. It highlighted the resilience, strength, and determination of the African Diaspora, intrinsically connected to the continent through a shared heritage and aspirations.

The speech [PDF] also emphasized the potential impact of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in fostering collaboration between the African Diaspora and the continent. AfCFTA’s ability to create a continental free-trade zone and boost intra-African trade opens up opportunities for the African Diaspora to connect with the continent for trade, innovation, and investment.

The collaboration between the Pan African Parliament and the African Diaspora Collective was highlighted as essential for advocating diaspora-friendly policies, promoting diaspora engagement, and addressing issues of representation and rights for diaspora communities. The collective effort of stakeholders was emphasized to make this vision a reality, fostering collaboration, unity, and understanding to create a future where the African Diaspora actively contributes to Africa’s development and reaps the benefits of a prosperous and united continent.

The summit served as a platform for organizations and stakeholders to come together, exchange ideas, and strengthen partnerships in pursuit of Africa’s development. The event’s success showcased the dedication and commitment of individuals and organizations to harness the immense potential of the African diaspora, paving the way for a brighter future of collaboration, growth, and progress for Africa and its diaspora communities.

2 thoughts on “ADC-USA Hosts Groundbreaking Online Summit, Uniting Organizations for Africa’s Development and Diaspora Collaboration

  1. Overall, the article provides a positive overview of the “Partnering with Africa: Leveraging the African Diaspora for Development” summit hosted by the African Diaspora Collective USA (ADC-USA). It highlights the participation of various organizations and prominent individuals, emphasizing the commitment to collaboration and driving Africa’s development agenda.

    The article effectively presents the key themes discussed during the summit, such as utilizing the African diaspora’s resources and expertise, strengthening ties with African descendant communities in the United States, and exploring strategies for Africa’s progress in sectors like trade, agriculture, technology, and education. It also mentions the potential impact of initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), diaspora ministries, the African Union, and the Pan-African Parliament in fostering collaboration and unity.

    The inclusion of the notable speech delivered by the President of the Pan African Parliament, Honorable Chief Fortune Charumbira, adds credibility and highlights the importance of connecting the African diaspora through policy and collaboration.

    The article effectively conveys the overall message of the summit, emphasizing the collective effort of stakeholders in advocating diaspora-friendly policies, promoting engagement, and addressing representation and rights for diaspora communities. It paints a hopeful picture of a future where the African diaspora actively contributes to Africa’s development and benefits from a prosperous and united continent.

    However, the article could benefit from providing more specific details about the discussions, ideas exchanged, and best practices shared during the summit. While it mentions the participation of numerous organizations and individuals, it doesn’t provide specific examples or outcomes of the event. Adding specific highlights and concrete examples of successful collaborations or initiatives resulting from the summit would strengthen the article’s impact.

    Additionally, it would be valuable to include some potential challenges or criticisms related to leveraging the African diaspora for development. Recognizing and addressing potential obstacles or limitations could provide a more comprehensive perspective on the topic.

    Overall, the article provides a positive overview of the summit and effectively conveys the importance of collaboration and unity between the African diaspora and Africa. By incorporating more specific details and addressing potential challenges, the article could provide a more balanced critique of the event.

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