The GUBA Diaspora Network (GDN) carried its model of structured diaspora engagement to one of the continent’s most significant multilateral platforms, participating in the African Diaspora Stakeholders Forum for the Horn and Horn Plus Regions, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Organised in collaboration with the African Union, the European Union, WIDU, and GIZ, the forum convened government representatives, development partners, diaspora organisations, and key regional stakeholders to develop strategies for strengthening diaspora engagement, investment, and development partnerships across Africa.
GDN’s Voice in the Room
Representing the GUBA Diaspora Network at the forum was Gerophine Madjoa Morrison, Diaspora Engagement Coordinator, who participated as a panel contributor. Drawing on GDN’s practical experience in building and managing diaspora engagement programmes, she shared insights on effective models for diaspora mobilisation and the institutional frameworks that convert diaspora interest into genuine, measurable impact.
GDN highlighted its membership platform as a working example of what structured diaspora engagement looks like in practice, connecting Africans in the diaspora to opportunities in business, investment, networking, and community development. The emphasis throughout was on moving beyond aspiration to systems that deliver real economic and social outcomes.
The Conversations That Matter
Key themes explored throughout the forum reflected the most pressing challenges and opportunities in diaspora engagement today:
These are not new conversations for GDN. They sit at the very heart of the work the organisation does every day, which is precisely why GDN’s participation added practical, ground-level perspective to what might otherwise remain a purely policy-level discussion.
Positioning GDN as a Model for the Continent
The forum provided GDN with valuable opportunities to connect with the African Union, GIZ representatives, government officials, and regional diaspora organisations across the Horn of Africa and beyond.
More than a networking opportunity, it positioned the GUBA Diaspora Network as a practical, replicable model for structured diaspora mobilisation—one that other organisations and governments can look to as they develop their own engagement frameworks.
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