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Mobilizing Ethiopians Living Abroad for the Development of Ethiopa www.ethiopiandiaspora.org/introduction.asp In 2001, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) initiated a capacity building program for Africa entitled Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA). The MIDA program aims to establish links between African countries and their citizens living abroad, without jeopardizing their social status and benefits gained in their host country. The objective of the MIDA program is to assist countries build their institutional capacities in order to manage and achieve their development goals. MIDA also aims to transfer technical skills and financial resources of Africans living abroad who are willing to contribute to the development of their countries of origin. In Ethiopia, MIDA was discussed with the Government through its counterpart, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) and other ministries. The government expressed strong support to the program and acknowledged the need to increase the participation of Ethiopians living abroad in the public and private sector development of the country. MIDA was also discussed and well received by United Nations Agencies, private sector, Civil Society Organizations, Diaspora hosting countries, donors and others. As an initial step to the program, IOM Addis Ababa has started collecting information on Ethiopians living abroad interested in contributing to the development of their country of origin. The collected information will allow IOM to assess the available skills of the diaspora and establish an active data bank on professional and non-professional Ethiopians interested in the MIDA program. This will also be used to match the demand in the country with the skills and other resource from the Diaspora. Repeated or one-time stays, transfer of competencies by electronic mode or even permanent return are the main options to implement MIDA program. Once funding is secured for the implementation of the program in Ethiopia, individuals’ request for participating will be facilitated. IOM would be grateful if you could complete the below questionnaire and send it to the following email IOM.Belyou.Guirbo@wfp.org or postal address of IOM, P.O.Box 25283 Code 1000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Thank you.
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