As part of the IOM-UNDP-Government of Chad pilot project “Strengthening Public Health and Higher Education Sectors Services in Chad through Mobilization of the Chadian Diaspora in France”, IOM organized a national workshop on Migration and Development on 24 and 25 September in N’Djamena.

The Workshop’s objective was to provide project stakeholders, i.e., the Government, beneficiary institutions and the Diaspora, with the opportunity to discuss about challenges of mobilizing competencies of the Chadian Diaspora through plenary sessions and working groups on the following themes: (1) developing a national policy for mobilizing Chadian Diaspora; (2) mobilizing Chadian Diasporas in other countries besides France; and (3) creating mechanisms for enhancing the transfer of competencies.

Workshop participants (a) requested the Government to elaborate a National Policy by reactivating the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Directorate for Diaspora, mapping the Diaspora’s skills, and defining motivating measures for reintegration and investments in accordance with national priorities and sectorial needs;

(b) recommended that the Chadian Diaspora – in France and in other countries – to expand the competencies offered and set up a platform of information for the mobilization of the Diaspora; and

(c) asked the technical and financial partners to strengthen their support to this nationwide initiative.

The workshop recommendations will be incorporated into the Government-IOM-UNDP multi-year project that aims at facilitating the return of more than 100 Chadian Qualified Nationals back to their home country and with the aim of supporting the development and peace building efforts of the country.

Seventy participants attended the workshop. It was officially opened by the Minister of Higher Education and Research in the presence of representatives from the Offices of the President and the Prime Minister, the Humanitarian Coordinator, the IOM Chief of Mission, the President of the Chadian Diaspora (GESST) in France and IOM Dakar’s Regional Specialist on Migration and Development, the donor community, civil societies and media.

Contact:

Dr. Qasim Sufi 
Chief of Mission, IOM Chad
Office: +235 22 52 53 59/60 (Ext. 111)
Mobile: +235 62 90 06 74
Fax: +235 22 52 53 61
Email: qsufi@iom.int