Targeting expatriates and diasporas
Very early on (2005), ANIMA collaborated with investment promotion agencies to develop strategies and services for expatriate talents, with a view to mobilising them at the service of their country of origin. This work has led to the creation of service guichets or platforms in several countries, to a matching fund for diaspora projects, and to numerous actions aimed at promoting diaspora investment in all its forms, to serve value creation in their countries of origin.
These experiences have enabled ANIMA to understand the expectations of the various economic diasporas, to develop its expertise in supporting both these diasporas and the territories, and to understand the issue in a global manner. ANIMA’s technical support was also accompanied by an important mapping of Mediterranean Diaspora associations worldwide and of the technical and financial support services available for them.
Several initiatives created by ANIMA remain references in this domain:
- PACEIM: ANIMA provided a technical and financial support to the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) for the first phase of PACEIM (now MeetAfrica) in the framework of its European project Invest in Med.
- FARO (Fonds d’amorçage, de réalisation et d’orientation) launched in 2010 in partnership with AFD, BPI France, Caisse des Dépôts and the Presidency of the Union for the Mediterranean: this €1M fund, whose sourcing was coordinated by ANIMA, has enabled the financing of 35 entrepreneurs from the Mediterranean Diaspora in France.
- MedGeneration, financed by the European Union (2014-2015): has enabled the creation of networks of diaspora ambassadors for Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon, set up promotional actions and a mentoring programme, and enabled a greater structuration of services for the diaspora in these countries.
- DiafrikInvest, funded by the European Union (2016-2020): supported 60 diaspora entrepreneurs, mobilised more than €2M of investment, and created multi-stakeholder service platforms in Senegal, Morocco and Tunisia.
Testimonials
“DiafrikInvest has really enabled all the actors in Senegal working with the diaspora to coordinate their services and to develop a common marketing towards the expatriate populations.”
Ibrahima Dione, President of CJD Senegal
“Over and above the networking, the sharing of ideas and the access to studies of high quality that ANIMA has provided, the network has also allowed us to start the pilot phase of our PACEIM project. This project has demonstrated the interest that the scientific diaspora from the south of the Mediterranean have when it comes to innovative entrepreneurship. Today, the project is working with almost 100 entrepreneurs. “
Régis Ferron – Innovation and Business Development - Direction Valorisation au Sud -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - France