The Diaspora Country Index (DCI) focuses mainly on assessing the ways in which developing countries engage their diaspora professionals to support economic advancement, beginning with an initial phase targeting the African continent. Our efforts concentrate on key areas including Governance & Transparency, Science & Innovation, Climate Change, and Digital Development. We provide a comprehensive framework alongside policy suggestions designed to help nations build stronger ties with their diasporas, improve their performance on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and promote partnerships between donor nations and African diaspora specialists.
Amidst the decrease in Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the surge of the digital era, African nations must foster strong connections and harness the capabilities of their international diasporas for technical support, mentorship, and possible impact investment. Any country that fails to involve its overseas diaspora risks overlooking a vital resource: a widespread, exceptionally skilled global community. This network of African experts—active in fields such as science, technology, policymaking, digital infrastructure, and innovation ecosystems—possesses unparalleled potential to collaboratively build sovereign, resilient, and inclusive development on the continent.
Vision and Strategic Goal
DCI envisions a future where African countries have the tools, incentives, and institutional mechanisms to deploy diaspora talent at scale in service of:
- Digital public infrastructure (e.g., ID systems, digital payments, open data platforms)
- AI and data governance readiness
- Science and innovation readiness
- Internet connectivity and infrastructure resilience
- Digital skills training and workforce pipeline development
- Civic responsibility and open government
- Global health
- Climate tech
This effort builds on DCI’s core tools—the Diaspora Country Index and the Diaspora Engagement Toolkit (DET)—which benchmark national readiness and provide actionable roadmaps for implementation. Through a “Peace Corps-style” deployment model, DCI will partner with African countries to engage and develop their own network of diaspora professionals who will serve in short- and long-term advisory, co-creation, and mentorship roles, helping build sovereign and inclusive capacity in their countries of heritage.
Core Programs and Deliverables
Our core programs and deliverables include:
- Diaspora Digital Engagement Framework (DDEF): An implementation toolkit and benchmarking index.
- Diaspora Country Index Annual Report: Updated rankings and metrics on diaspora engagement performance.
- Comparative Case Studies: Models from India, Ukraine, and Estonia applied to African contexts.
- Diaspora Engagement Toolkit (DET): Practical policy guidance and implementation playbooks.
- Multi-stakeholder Convenings: Global policy labs and regional workshops with diaspora experts, digital ministries, and development partners.
- Pilot Deployment Models: Operational designs tailored for Ministries of ICT, Digital Economy, and Innovation.
Outcomes and Impact
Our initiatives aim to achieve the following outcomes and impact:
- Diaspora formally integrated into national digital development plans.
- Increased digital resilience and infrastructure capacity across target countries.
- Expanded youth and civil service skills pipelines.
- Policy and funding frameworks institutionalized for long-term diaspora engagement.
- Progress on SDGs 8, 9, and 16.
The African diaspora is a strategic force multiplier in the digital age, and our initiative builds on DCI’s credibility, partnerships, and data-driven tools to unlock that force at scale. By establishing a Peace Corps-like program, we aim to create a new global model for diaspora-led development—one that elevates African leadership, leverages global partnerships, and delivers measurable transformation outcomes from the ground up.