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Connecting Diaspora for Development (CD4D)

CD4D project concluded - Second phase expected soon!

Implementation period: April 2016 - 30 June 2019

The CD4D project aims for diaspora members of five target countries to contribute to their country of origin via knowledge transfer and capacity building.

Since 2004, we have been offering temporary assignments to professionals with a migration background who want to make their knowledge and experience available to their country of origin. Because of their cultural and linguistic affinities with their countries of origin and their high commitment diaspora experts are in an excellent position to contribute to the development of the countries involved. The current CD4D project has been running since 2016 and is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The CD4D Method

Many countries have a considerable number of professionals among their diaspora communities in the Netherlands. They also face brain drain and often lack qualified human resources. Through temporary physical and online assignments, professional diaspora members residing in the Netherlands are linked to institutions in their countries of origin to share their knowledge and expertise. To reinforce the impact of the assignments, we can also offer internships and training opportunities in the Netherlands to representatives of selected host institutions. The impact of the project is monitored throughout by the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance of Maastricht University.

The CD4D Impact

Diaspora experts are instrumental in establishing and maintaining sustainable links between institutions in the Netherlands and institutions in the target countries. The project facilitates various connections:

  • Connections between diaspora experts and representatives of host institutions
  • Connections between institutions in the Netherlands and host institutions
  • Connections between diaspora experts themselves.

CD4D is demand-driven, meaning that all assignments respond to capacity-building needs identified in selected institutions in one of the priority sectors: education, agriculture / rural development, health care, justice / rule of law. The project targets the following five countries:

  • Afghanistan
  • Ethiopia
  • Iraq
  • Sierra Leone
  • Federal Republic of Somalia/Somaliland

 

Mr. Bangura lives in the Netherlands but often returns to his home country, Sierra Leone by taking part in CD4D assignments.