September 21, 2007—The estimated 1.7 million Sub-Saharan Africans who live in Europe play a key role in helping their home countries through remittances and other pay-back resources. Now, individuals and businesses in this diaspora are being invited to participate in a World Bank-supported entrepreneurship competition and knowledge-exchange forum, aimed at fighting poverty in their countries of origin.
The Development Marketplace for African Diaspora in Europe (D-MADE), launched in Brussels and Paris by the World Bank and its partners, hopes to generate momentum around innovative ways to mobilize the diasporas’ ideas and activities.
Obiageli Ezekwesili, World Bank Vice President for Africa
“We need to partner with these communities if we are to win the fight against poverty in Africa,” said Obiageli Ezekwesili, World Bank Vice President for Africa. “The challenge of reaching the Millennium Development Goals requires everyone’s participation and we at the Bank need to learn from and encourage the entrepreneurship and creativity of these groups.”
Sub-Saharan immigrants have settled in countries throughout Western Europe.
The competition, which will remain open for proposals until Nov. 23, aims to support diaspora business projects that would have a positive impact on the social welfare of local African communities. Projects could include new businesses, investment in local infrastructure and technical assistance.
The 10 to 15 competition winners will receive prizes ranging from €10,000 to €40,000 to implement profit-making projects that empower the disadvantaged, are results-oriented and scalable, according to D-MADE guidelines. At the knowledge-exchange forum, to be held on June 24-25, 2008, competition finalists will interact with other representatives of the development community.
The competition is open to individuals or organizations – for-profit and nonprofit alike – in the Sub-Saharan African diaspora currently based in Europe and active in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The World Bank is partnering with the Belgian Development Cooperation, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and French Development Agency in sponsoring the competition and forum.
More details, including how to apply for the competition and its rules and guidelines, are at: www.dmade.org.
