–Government’s Diaspora Engagement Model Earns Continental Recognition as Officials Push for Stronger Investment Partnerships and African-wide Coordination
MOMBASA, Kenya – Liberia has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening diaspora investment and engagement across Africa following the conclusion of the three-day COMESA–IOM Diaspora Investment Workshop held in Mombasa, Kenya.
The high-level forum, organized under the Sustainable Diaspora Engagement for Economic Recovery (SDE4R) initiative with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), brought together government officials, diaspora leaders, investment promotion agencies, financial institutions, regional organizations, and development partners from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and beyond.
The workshop focused on identifying practical strategies to unlock diaspora capital, strengthen investment ecosystems, and position African diasporas as key drivers of sustainable economic growth across the continent.
Representing Liberia during the closing day of the conference, Assistant Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Hon. Paul T. Lamin, participated in a high-level session on financing institutions for diaspora investment, where delegates explored innovative mechanisms to mobilize diaspora resources for national development.
Throughout the three-day event, Liberia’s diaspora engagement framework received widespread recognition from participants, who praised the country’s government-led approach as a model for building trust, strengthening collaboration, and creating meaningful opportunities for Liberians living abroad to contribute to national development.
Particular attention was given to Liberia’s Presidential Diaspora Conference, which is entering its second year and has become a flagship platform for fostering dialogue between the Government and Liberians in the diaspora.
Delegates also commended Liberia’s broader diaspora engagement architecture, including the Liberian Diaspora Annual Conference (LDAC) and the Diaspora Annual Return (DAR) initiative, describing them as innovative platforms that promote investment, entrepreneurship, skills transfer, and stronger partnerships between the diaspora and the homeland.
As the workshop concluded, participants emphasized the need to move beyond dialogue by strengthening diaspora umbrella organizations, expanding collaboration with investment promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, and regional institutions, while deepening partnerships with organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), COMESA, and the African Development Bank.
Liberia also played an active role during the technical breakout sessions.
Representing the Liberian delegation from the United States, Hon. Alpha Tongor participated in discussions on investment partnerships, exchanging ideas with delegates from more than 22 African countries on practical approaches to enhancing diaspora-driven development.
One of the workshop’s key observations highlighted Liberia’s unique position among participating countries.
While many African nations have established diaspora engagement structures through ministerial departments or specialized government units, Liberia was recognized for the strong political leadership and high-level government commitment driving its diaspora agenda.
Participants noted that the direct involvement of the Office of the President has helped strengthen confidence, institutional continuity, and public trust in Liberia’s engagement with its global diaspora.
The Liberian delegation comprised Hon. Erasmus T. Williams, Head of the Office of Diaspora Affairs and Head of Delegation; Hon. Paul T. Lamin, Assistant Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning; Mr. Alpha Tongor, Lead Secretariat of the Office of Diaspora Affairs; and Mr. Serge Lenaud, Head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Liberia.
During the workshop, Hon. Erasmus T. Williams renewed Liberia’s proposal for the establishment of an African Diaspora Engagement Taskforce, an initiative aimed at strengthening continental coordination on diaspora policies, investment promotion, and development cooperation.
The proposal attracted positive interest from representatives of the African Union, who viewed it as a potential framework for enhancing collaboration among African countries on diaspora engagement and investment.
The Mombasa workshop concluded with renewed commitments by participating countries to deepen partnerships, improve policy frameworks, and develop practical financing mechanisms that position diaspora communities as strategic partners in Africa’s economic transformation.
For Liberia, officials say the conference reinforced the country’s determination to strengthen ties with Liberians around the world while creating greater opportunities for diaspora investment, innovation, entrepreneurship, and skills transfer to support national development.
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