Watch the recordings on World Bank Live
Recording of all afternoon panels
The main goal of this year's forum is to engage and incentivize entrepreneurs and investors in the African Diaspora who are looking to create trade, investment, and mentorship opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
At its core, the forum will be an opportunity for participants to interact with and hear from various demographics in the African diaspora, highlighting their successes and failures in doing business throughout the African continent. Speakers will include diaspora early-stage investors and entrepreneurs as well as donor partners who will discuss existing programs which are being implemented to take advantage of the diaspora's potential to boost trade and investment.
In addition, preliminary results from a pilot survey on the Africa diaspora will be shared for the first time at the forum. Developed by the World Bank Group's Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, this survey has been designed to gather data on the engagement of African diaspora individuals with origins from eight African countries, and focuses on their business activities in the following areas: agribusiness, consumer products, energy, climate change, financial services/inclusion, and tourism. While still in its pilot phase, the survey will provide some insight into the activities of diaspora communities in developing trade, investment, and technical assistance opportunities with their countries of origin.
By sparking animated discussions, the forum aims to be a point collaboration between all attendees, leading to the discovery of partnerships and potential synergies with a variety of stakeholders invested in strengthening the African continent through trade and investment opportunities.
CORE TEAM
John Speakman
Practice Manager, Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice
Lucy Fye
Senior Private Sector Development Specialist
Nii Simmonds
Private Sector Development Specialist
Beverley Mbu
Consultant
Donald Agaba
Consultant