The Ethiopian government is about to issue a new Diaspora policy to engage the vast diaspora 
community around the world. You can read the draft( here). Any policy will become effective and useful if it is derived based on inputs from those that will be affected by and on expert opinions. We may not be experts but we are for sure beneficiaries. As such what will it take for you as a diaspora to be engaged in your mother country? What would you like to see the policy address? And as a diaspora what will it take for you to move back and contribute your know how and invest your money? And what is missing from the current draft document that you would like to be included? Have Your say.
Well i have tried to read the draft and it all sounds good. If the goverment want to engage thd diaspora, it should start with the diaspora that have left theiri jobs, wealth and their new country for the sake for helping their motherland or invest and live in Ethiopia. I have moved moved with my family to Ethiopia and have seen the most corrupt society in the world.
The policy sounds good. but in reallity i have been better respected in the USA than in my oun country. Our experince can make a good book but talking and forumjulating policy one thing and practice is all diffrent. Please please start with the ones who invested their lives first, then you can progress to the ones far away. Do a little research to find out what percentage of diaspora are still living in Ethiopian and what percentage left because of the little support they got from the government. It might be anedotal eveidence , my info says more than half left disappointed. As for me and my family we rather be a servant in USA than to be corrupted king in Ethiopia— that was my 2 cents
It is not the law that is the problem. It is the implementation. Embassy staff need to trained on people skills. They tend to be arrogant, dismissive and don’t care.
It is good the EPRDF government has started to engage people living overseas.
The people living overseas may be good people with knowledge and money. They can help in developing the country. But the government needs to make sure the preferential treatment these people will get is not going to cause harm to local investors. They need to make sure those living inside will not feel less desired and wanted. Ethiopia is poor and any special treatment to the Diaspora will surely create animosity and envy.
If the policy is to work in a positive atmosphere where there is no jealousy and envy then the government needs to approach the diaspora with a clear vision and strategy. The questions that needs to be answered in the is policy are:
1) what kind of diaspora are encourage to take advantage of or what is the government interest in this policy? Is the policy to entice investors and educators or retires?
2) Is the policy trying to fill in a gap and which gap? engineers, doctors, merchants ..e.tc? I hope the policy will have a clause to weed out “cake bet” investors…the country has enough of them!
3) What are the incentives the policy is trying to address for investors and educators…housing, importing living household items and salary..I said salary already there are few Diaspora people who are employed by the government earning huge salary comparable to western companies salary…can the country afford such for huge expatriates?
4)The policy should have clear demarcation so political involvement if the person has adopted foreign nationality. It is easy to be dragged in to Ethiopia’s politics. Specify what are the political boundaries any a diaspora must respect while in the country.
5) The policy should include a mechanism where grievances are heard properly and in time…should have a short path where complaints reach the higher ups bypassing immediate handlers.
All the above and more needs to be included in the policy and clearly understood by the diaspora before one can say the policy is good or bad. To do that the missions abroad or who ever is assigned by the government to explain the policy need to approach community leaders and grass-root organizations. The government should not expect people to flock in to their meetings with out due diligence on the party to reach out. The government should monitor missions abroad if they are reaching out or playing business as usual and hype reports going back to the local office.
Thank You Aigaforum
Th draft sounds perfect, because it could be drafted by experts in this endeavor. However, the mind set to engage diaspora is not there yet. May be in the future if all work in partnership. (Government, civil society, diaspora etc)
After reading the draft paper, I can ask why the government can not accept a double citizenship instead of making a round tour? For me it is simple to accord double nationality laws.
In europe, Italy, Germany, and some other countries were not according a double nationalitities but today as most of the people in the EU are really mixed, every ,European government adopted a pluralist nationality laws.
So I wonder what does it matter in Ethiopia to adopt the same law?
My second point is that it is really sad to say this but as it is true we have to say it loudly:
1. The embassy people give very little respect for any service we request of course, senior people are more humble and serviable than those secretaries or telephonists.
2. In Ethiopia of course the bureaucracy is more
Than what we can imagine and with the habit we have in the west it is very frustrating to go forward. One of m y country man left from here to invest there and jusstarting a permission to build a house it took him more
Than 6 months and still e is fighting.
3. I know for those who are highly skilled to pay them high salary c.an be a source of jealousy but still as far as the person is a phd holder and a foreign national, I think the government should pay the same salary as any European or Americans. In the early 90ts one of my friend choose to go back after he. Finished his phd and the other stayed here and he did lot of study. The one back at home chose ,his way and the one here as well and I don’t see any problem if the guy he is still here go back to Ethiopia and will be paid more money than any local phd holder.
We don’t need to forget that money is the source of any interest and this is the only motor that matter so if no money, no professionals
4. My last point is, the investment today we would like to do is mostly dependent on telecommunication and as every one knows telecom in Ethiopia is one of the poorest in the world. So very decision maker to back or not to back. At least a partial privitalization must be taken so that there will be progress.
4.
there is nothing in it that benefits the deaspora community , rather it seems a well thought, but not hard to figure out skim how to milk their dollars in the name of investment
The right of dual citizenship in the form of a constitutional amendment stating that anyone born in Ethiopia or of Ethiopian parents has an un-revokable right to Ethiopian citizenship would go a long way to assure diaspora engagement (in my opinion, more than any other policy document).
Though the government has adopted another strategy (the yellow book) I think there are serious problems with that path. The current ‘yellow book’ essentially makes people report that they have adopted another citizenship. There is however no guarantee that the rights under this path will not change in the future. If the rules change at some future time; for example, so that only Ethiopian citizens can own property, there will be no recourse to these individuals, their properties/investments. This is a very big uncertainty. As a citizen, no one has to worry about these things.
Second, there is a large number of new generation of Ethiopians born to diaspora parents. Giving them rights of Ethiopian citizenship ensures their continued engagement in events of their country (and not just them, but their children as well).
This is a much less complicated policy. There is really no reason to not allow dual citizenship. The potential benefits are very large.
Once this is done, the government then just needs to focus on eliminating uncertainties where it comes to property rights. This applies to all citizens not just diaspora. Things like the recent lease rule changes introduce uncertainties creating an environment for people not to invest in their home countries.
Engaging the Diaspora is paramount if the Ethiopian government wishes to bring tangible participation form Diaspora community.
However, the policy as good as it seems it also lacks details and open for interpretation. Just to mention one example, returning Diasporas will have the opportunity to bring in their possessions without tax or with significantly reduced taxation. This paragraph needs to explain in detail what reduced taxation means (50%, 40% etc…) to close the door for corruption and personal interpretation
TPLF’s grand move to block the investment in the Eritrean Mining sector and cut Eritrea from remittances hit a wall. TPLF should think for another ‘Addis like Bagdad Drama’. That what is good at, Lies and begging. By doing this Meles turned off the light at the end of the tunnel and I am sure there will not be peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia at least for decades to come.
በእድገት እና ትራንስፎርሜሽን ወቅት ላለዉ ግብ መሳካት የተማረ ሃይል እንደሚያስፈልግ ጥርጥር የለዉም። ስለዚህም አሁን ዲያሰፖራዉን ተሳታፊ ለማድረግ ጥረት ያለ ይመስላል። እኔ እስከማዉቀዉ ድረስ የአቅም ግንባታ ተብሎ መጀመሪያ የወጣዉ እቅድ እንዳልተሳካ፣ ከዚያም በኋላ የዲያስፖራ ተሳትፎ አስፈላጊነት በማለት ሌላ ተሞክሮ መደረጉን ያም ደግሞ ዉጤታማ እንዳልሆነ አዉቃለሁ። ለምን ቢባል ከመንግስት በኩል ፍላጎቱ እያለ በበቂ ምክንያቶች ዲያስፖራዎችን ለማሳታፍ የተሞከሩት ክራይቴሪያዎች ደካሞች በመሆናቸዉ እና አተረጓጓማቸዉ እዉቅናና ያቀፈ ስላልነበረ ነበር። ባሁኑ ሙከራ ደግሞ መታሰብ የሚገባቸዉ ቁልፍ ነገሮች አሉ።
ይኸዉም ፦
1. ለዲያስፖራ የልማት ተሳታፊዎች ዋስትና ያለዉ አሰራር እንዲፈጠር፤ ለምን ቢባል እያንዳንዱ ተሳታፊ ምንም እንኳን አገሩን ለመርዳት፣ ራሱንም ለመጥቀም በተዘረጋዉ እቅድ ቢሳተፍም ቅሉ፣ ከመዳረሻ አገሮች ያነስ ክፍያም ሆነ የማቴሪያል አቅርቦት በመነሻዉ አገር ስላለ ለግቡ መሳካት ከቀረጥ ነጻ የሆኑ ቁሳቁሶች በትከክል መፈቀድ አለባቸዉ። ለምሳሌ ለስራ የሚሆን መኪና ካለ ከስራዉ ጋር የተያያዙትን ቁሳቁሶች አያይዞ ባጠቃላይ ማለት ነዉ።
2. ሁለተኛ መሬትም ሆነ ለመስሪየ የሚገለግሉበትን መኖርያ ቤት ለዚህ ለተቀደሰ ተግባር ያለምንም ማመንታት ደረጃዉን በጠበቀ መንገድ ቅድመ ሁኔታዎችን በማመላከት መፈቀድ እና መተግበር ይኖርባቸዋል።
3. ማበራተቻ እና ሞራል ገንቢ የሆኑ ነገሮችን መንግስት ማዘጋጀት ይኖርበታል።
4. ከዉጭ የሚመጣ እዉቀት የተገኘዉ ከብዙ ትግል መሆኑ ታስቦበት ከመንግስት ጋር ላለዉ አሰራር የመወሰን መብት እነዲሰጥ ያስፈልጋል።
5. በዉጭ የኖረ የዲያስፖራ ግለሰብ ከማየት ብቻ እንኳን ብዙ ትምህርት ስላዬ የሚለዉን፣ የሚሰጠዉን ሃሳብ በጥሞና ማድመጥ እና ለመተግበሩም ካለዉ የአቅም መጠን ጋር ሙሉ በሙሉ መተባበር።
6. በዚህ ረገድ ዉጤታማ የሆኑትን ግለሰቦች ካላቸዉ ልምምድ እና ዉጣ ዉረድ ለአዲስ መጪዎች ማካፈል የሚችሉበትን መንገድ ማዘጋጀት።
7. ስራዉ ያለ ቢሮክረሲ መከናወን አለበት።
እንግዲህ ከላይ የተጠቀሱት ዝርዝሮች ለግቡ መሳካት ሚና አላቸዉ እላለሁ። ከምንም ምንም እንደማይገኝ ሁሉ መንግስትም ለዚህ ቅዱስ ተግባር በቂ ባጀት መድቦ ግዜ ሳያባክን መተግበር ይኖርበታል። እንደማናቸዉም በበጀት የተሰራ እቅድ ዉጤቱን ማየት እና መከታተል ይገበዋል።
Ethiopian they don’t have enemy, Beside thier owned enemy thier owned Ethiopian people for example the old education ameharic people whome live all over the world, which they didn’t had of any stiraggling of besic of life, whom those very greedy they even used the system of the American policies not for good or devolopmet the people of Ethiopian, but for thier wishs, that some day will take over Ethiopian Gevorement and run it the some like used to be 20 years ago. Even in united states they the one fits the profile ineducational systems in make money opening bussinase building bussinse, in ethiopia enjoying ethiopia but they will back to united stated, would tell in thier propogunda, which not truths they know how to miss lead the ethiopian american not just the but the world to. We have to asked to ouerselvies, why do the U.N or United Stated took them that long time to figured out who to who?
I believe, every ethiopian in the diaspora would like to invest in the motherland if and only if the EPRDF is willing to address the following obstacles:
1.Diaspora needs a favorable import tax system to afford bringing in to the country their belongings, which are considered basic necessities by western standards.
2. Allow diaspora to be able to purchase affordable land/housing for their primary residence with out the requirement to join housing associations, which takes decades for the process to materialize.
3. Minimize/eliminate the heartles bureaucracy that’s scaring away potential diaspora investers.
Please you have to stop calling Ethiopians who took foreign passports “Ethiopians by Birth” or foreign nationals of ‘Ethiopian Origin’. Being Ethiopian is a matter of Blood, one can not erase Ethiopianness. So you have to give Ethiopian passport for Ethiopians who took foreign passports. The yellow ID is a sort of discrimination. One can not be denied anything in his homeland. Therefore you have to give Ethiopian passport and the right to invest in any type of Business for people who are Ethiopians by Blood.
Thanks
The new diaspora policy looks very good on the paper. The problem is the people who are supposed to implement the policy should be trained to successfully carry their duties. It looks good plocies are ahead of implementation by miles. Please appoint good officers who understand the needs of investors . Pleaseeeeeeeeeeee and pleaseeeeeeee
There are no need to say, If we can see and tell the defferent between the old ruled and the new rules. For over 100 years the Amharic ruled over Ethiopian people, What were the result ? ethiopian were discmretion eath othes, no respact to the most cultures, but to be respacted to certain race, munpilated the truth history of realy Ethiopian, no school beside certain people only, meles got lucky to scaped before got kill just liked his friends at universty were killid they never had chance to see the new ethiopia now. If you thing we don’t have ethiopian torrorst for ethiopian what you call Dr. Burhanu nega?
Previously few days ago I send to you my comment on this issue and about the meeting held in Denver on “Diaspora policy”. However, you failed to post it. I explained my comment in details mainly on issue regarding strengthening community organizations in the aim of “to provide support for those needy Ethiopians” (5.1.7, 5.1.8.in Amharic version). I am not completely opposing the government or any other interested groups help or assistance to Diaspora community organizations, as long as the community organizations are not compromising their core principles. However, it needs caution when the government dealt with this issue. Especially taking in to consideration the Diaspora Ethiopian political engagement (which is mainly based on hate) the implementation of the policy will not be as such easy in N.America, Europe and Scandinavian countries. Some of the oppositions could have a chance to easily distorting the policy and misleads the public, and widening the gap between Diaspora Ethiopians. On the contrary, taking into consideration the prevailing condition, the policy could easily be implemented in Asia, especially in Arab countries and the Ethiopian communities there will not only be benefited , but also it will give them a grantee not to be abused either by their agents or employers.
As a short and medium term plan, create an enabling environment for technology transfer, encouraging Diaspora population to actively involve in economic sector, humanitarian and other social activities. The involvement of Diaspora population in these activities will pave the way for healthy relationship between the Ethiopian diplomatic mission and the Diaspora population, and ease the tension. Therefore, the implementation of 5.1.7, and 5.1.8 should be a long term plan.
No matter how difficult it is, the diplomatic mission should continue organize meeting to aware the Diaspora public about the socio-economic and political situation of the country. Organizing this kind of meeting will also pave the way for political compromise.
I appreciate your courage to entertain this issue, and others should do the same. It is only through open discussion and tolerance we can create a democratic societies.
Sincerely
W.Yilma
The diaspora community ” the silent majority” is more than willing to invest or actively participate in knowledge transfer. As I stated in my earlier posting, embassy staff need to be welcoming and knowledgable about the current policies and opportunities that exist for diaspora ethioians. Recently I called the embassy seeking information but no one seems to know. I was transfered from one person to the other and put on hold for quite some time, This is the reality we face.If our involvement is needed , thi shas to change. We support the democratization procees, the economic development and welove our coountry. Please educate embassy staff. They are rough, not polite and don’t seem to understand their role.
It is good that the government initiated the policy. However, after reading the document I couldn’t find any new element in it. To be specific, all the statements sound like wishes (they are broad statements of what should be done). They lack details and have no strategy of implementation. There is no clear point as to how they are going to be implemented or enforced. They are also open for interpretation (as Haile mentioned it above).
If the intention is clearly to help and engage the diaspora every statement should be clearly stated so that when any one go and ask for service in any office she/he can refer the policy. Otherwise I couldn’t see any real stuff in it. It needs to be revised.
Forget the Diaspora policy, all we need is a freedom policy. We cannot continue being the salve. Why would the Diaspora leave the land of freedom it leaves and gives up it freedom to —and —-. Ethiopinas need frredom and democracy, not disapora polsicy
Dear Aiga,
Kibelewa ya zebelu Zagras koka yiblawa ybehal. First, what moral do you reall have whether to allow or deny diaspora Ethiopians a privilege in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is these days for Arabs, Indians, or anyone who can throw some money to Wedi Zenawi.
But I do not blame you man, I blame the hodam Ethiopians who allowed you to ride on the Ethiopian people. You racist, who discriminate your own citizen, but who throw away the land of the people of to Indian, Arabs,… etc. Shame on you Aiga. Any Diaspora who make a deal with you is an enemy of Ethiopia.
With all the mistakes, without any reform, you want to woo diaspora now? how come? As one mentioned above, you are the most racist people. Why do you pay foreigners more than locals? why? shame on you. I have a hard time with you guys. Tsemamat, you wanted to develop Ethiopia by treating Ethiopian as second citizen in their own land? You wanted to develop Ethiopians by selling thier land to foreigners? You wanted to develop Ethiopians by calling them terrorists when they oppose you? Aiga, Ethiopia belongs to all Ethiopian, no Ethiopians is above any Ethiopians?
My deep grief is why are you arresting people and calling them terrorists? why do not reform and bring national change instead of selecting, choosing friends among Ethiopians? Forget this investment story, why your boss never do any reform? has he sworn to die with all his mistakes? If you cannot admit and correct all the mistakes you have done over the past 20 years? why are you arresting people and calling them terrorists? by the way, where did you get this terrorist name?
My clear message to you, if you do not do any reform, no Ethiopians will come to work with you with whole heart. It is true some hodam will cuddle with you, but not Ethiopians who have bones. If you wanted Ethiopians, you need to set Ethiopians free from bondage of black aparthied. Whether you agree with me or not, we have an aparthied in Ethiopia where people are arrested for having different political aim and thought of line. You do every mistakes and you go away with them, but people who oppose you are condemned to imprisonment? This diaspora policy is just crab. I do not want even want to hear about it. No reform or no correction to all the mistakes, but still wanted everyone to follow them?
I can think of a couple of things.
1) Real democarcy is a must. I can’t stand officials spouting ‘democarcy’ all day and trampling upon the right of citizens or others every which way including charging law abiding citizens as ‘terrorists’ or ‘terrorist sympathizers’.
2) There should be a consistent policy on property rights. If I am not sure what will happen tomorrow regarding my property–say house and land on which it is built, I would be crazy to invest in that country.
3) Corruption must be rooted out. Why would any one who lived in the west with the almost impeccable customer service bother with the horrible corruption there. Investiment is always risky, but when uncertainity, corruption and lack of democracy is added to it, it is disastorous.
Fix these and capital will flow there.
Need to give adequate access to the mass media — newspapers, radio, and TV — to representatives of the opposition to avoid extremism and thus ensure the stability of the country. The opposition is now limited to only print media, which reaches less tha 5% of the population. EPRDF on the other hand reaches over 80% of the population through the mass media via newspapers, radio, and TV. This is leading to great frustration and extremism among opposition supporters. All that is needed is permanent political program(s) on radio and TV — like BBC politcal progams — which would be aired once or twice a week. This will answer the legitimate question of opposition supporters for adequate access to the mass media and solve the problem of extremism the terrorists like G7 and the Eritrean government take advantage of! In other words, it would take away the Gun out of the extremists and terrorists!!!
There are few points that I would like to add on the message board that everyone say some good or less good points. There are also points that need a summary as everybody seems to preoccupied by the same issues.
1. There are two parallel ideas that do not go or that we cannot accept one of them. The government refuse to pay a expat salary for Ethiopian origin and at the same time the government is trying not to give a double citizenship. Well, what is this kind of discrimination? Either they have to accept double citizen right or they have to consider us as a foreign and basta.
2. The other point is that the embassy staffs / workers skills. This is something that can be improved but it takes long time to train those old guards. Whenever we ask minor questions, the usual standard answer, yelum, behuala yidewulu, tinish koyitew yidewulu, kesew garnachew etc etc….never never never a good services.
3. I think in the west we are well and better treated than in our own countries. It is also true that people either in the embassy or even in Ethiopia give a better and more efficient service for white people than us, ridicule.
4. The next point I would like to mention is the bureaucracy. I have to mention this simple example to let you know the little….One of my country man who back to home to invest in the transport fields, first start to construct his house as he already has an old house from his family. To get the construction work permit took him more than 9 months which could be done over a night. When I discussed with him, he is always devoted not to give a cents of bribe but finally recently when I called him and talked to him about it, he said “no one will ask you money but they will make your life hell and you end up by abandoning your good ideas backed from Europe” so how can this could be eradicate?
5. The democracy and human right abuse by the government, here it depends from which side we are and how we can define human right and democracy, One cannot pronounce democracy on the basis of the actual system in Ethiopia but we can simply live and shut up our mouth. Every day we see journalists leaving the country, any one critics of the government is chasing by the service secret and followed by them day and night. So what can be done in this perspective? The government has to think about this for a better reconciliation with the Diaspora. The right of citizens must be respected. We are not against the government in principle, but when we see the unjustified arrest and imprisonement of citizens, it is unacceptable to accept that.
6. The business advantage for affiliate people. We are all Ethiopian and our regions must not be a matter to get a good business.
7. The 7th point is the Telecommunication. The Ethiopian government has to liberalize at least some part of the telecom and it should be modernized and lead by skilled people instead of political nominations. The technology knows how transfer must play a huge amount of progress if that is ok. I would like to mention some examples in this area.
a. No one has the right to do business VOIP.
b. No one has a right to build websites (I was told by someone to be confirmed this one).
c. Internet is extremely expensive than any country in the west and the connection is like the 56k diaup we have had here long ago.
So what is the solution for all these?
Here are my answers:-
1. Give double nationalities or pay expat salary
2. Send trained and skilled employees and they must learn continuously. Especially they have to be humble and friendly. They must be informed about the detailed of the work process if they have ITIL, that would be good for them
3. Discrimination must be stopped
4. This is the hardest but not impossible. There must be a bypass for higher hierarchy to complain about some service but the higher hierarchy must not be the worst
5. People right and opinion must be respected and in the name of this and that the government has to stop arresting citizens and sending them to jail unless found guilty.
6. I can be pro or against the government or neutral, but when comes to doing business, the chance must be equal for all of us.
7. It must be partially manage by private companies and private companies must be able to provide services so that people will have a choice between EthioTelecom and other providers. Unless this happen, EthioTelecom will always feel the king of telecom and will decide price. But for me the price must be decided by the market.
a. We should be able to bring any new technology to do business legally
b. Create website for private or governmental agencies must be a job by everybody.
c. Internet price should be lower and depending on time and competitively, the price always must lower.
If this will be the choice of the government, we the Diaspora people are ready to change that country.
gezae, you voted as an Eritrean so what are you doing here? your mistake is irritating you ,not Zenawi or else! you mad a mistake when you considered yourself & be an Eritrean! there is nothing wrong with being an Eritrean ! but you chose it & it is in the files so it won’t hide anywhere! mogn na wereqet yeyazew ayleqm! and you this & you can’t rest at all! your own mistake Mr!
Dear Aiga,
Thank you for such opportnuties which enable us to voice our concerns.
I can say that the government is discovering peoples worries, dissatisfactions, disappointments and of course interests relatively. I believe this is also part of the ways true democracy can be exercised. In this context, the new diaspora policy can be seen as very encouraging to the wider diaspora population.
Simultaneously, the government truly needs to balance the implementation of the policy and its practicality as different ranges of barriers of bureucracy are widely observed (turning the diaspora needs to their own interests) during diaspora meetings at different levels. Implementing the policy may not be enough. More needs to be done in its practicality especially key relevant areas ought to be fuuly aware of this. If not, let every one (including the government) save time, energy and financial resources.
I think the diaspora policy is a good thing. But I belief it should focus as its one element in creating consensus on some basic issue concerning ethiopia. It will be a failed policy if the government speaks of ethiopian diaspora as a single unit while the ethiopian diaspora are divided along ethnic lines. For example many thinks that we tigregna speakers are particularily beneftied from the current ethiopian government. I know also some groups such as Siltie and harari are diaspora are conisdered specially favoured groups. If there is such mentality among the individual diaspora how can such policy still be sucessful?
I think the government though did good in recognising te right of nation and nationalities. It must also work hard to explain to us what makes one ethiopian citizen? We need to write our coomon history, value and ideology as a ethiopians. Without this diaspora policy may fail.
I did not read the policy yet. My problem with the Ethiopian system in general is that you can not trust any thing. They change the policy any time for any reason. There is no accountability. Yes there is corruption like any where in Africa.
One of the reasons why the US has developed and the one thing Ethiopia has to learn is rules and regulations are respected.
What I think people have a say at this time should be the Government interfirance with reilgious leaders on the GAY issue. EPRDF prevented them from form issuing their objection. That is wrong! That should be the disscution.
When it comes yo the diaspora issue, I think there is no new policy that has not been said in the past. The problem has always been on policy implmentation. it seems like they are doing it again… Policy without a structuer to implment it, yes the FM has a diaspora office for the last 10 years but was always prempted by other government offices. They have in the past consentrated in attracting only on the investor Diaspora and the kowledge transfer aspect of it has been unwanted and even dreaded by low leble beurocrats who feel thratened and actually frustrate the effort and sabotaged…..the activities
Allow Dual Citizenship. That is the most important thing.
I found the policy to be sound and workable. But i have a reservation on the name of the policy document, that is, THE DIASPORA POLICY.
The exodus of Ethiopians from their mother land is not centuries told story. It is of recent past unlike the Jews diaspora that took place on the 6th century. The Ethiopian exodus began when the military junta, the derg, took power by force. However, after hard won struggle, when the derg was brought to demise, Ethiopians began to move by their own volition exercising their right to movement up to deciding their domicile. My argument is that we don’t have forgotten Ethiopians but we have for sure Ethiopians residing out side of Ethiopia. The policy encourages those Ethiopians to participate on their home affairs.
So in this regard would it sound naive if the draft policy is renamed as A DRAFT POLICY ON THE ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY RESIDING AROUND THE WORLD.
How a government organ can establish politically free ………………………? If there is freedom and the growth is 11%, why do you think the diaspora will keep his money in a bank paying as little as 1% interest? Do I continue….. or……..
I truly believe, it is very hard to sell this policy without the fundamental changes to the democratic process and a true freedom of press. The current system is not accountable to anyone and the absence of accountability is the source of corruption and nepotism. The skilled and successful Diasporas will never subject themselves, again, to the injustice which they run away from a long time ago. I am not saying this because I hate the current government. As a matter of fact, all the development efforts underway are in my wish lists and I support them whole heartedly. Unfortunately, one of my wish list is being absent, robust democratic system and freedom of press. The people at the very top of the government have vision for the development of the country, but they are scared of a true democracy and a free press, while the people down under do not care for both democracy and development. They just want some personal gains through whatever means.
It is said there are over 2million Ethiopians and Ethiopian origin Nationals of another country scattered all over the world. Even if there are half of the mentioned number these folks are a huge potential for spurring investment and at the very least to keep the service sector humming. Some may undermine the potential of the diaspora but it is a huge force and it is better late than never the government has come up with the policy.
The diaspora is politically charge as such the policy should have a mechanism where the different political aspiration of the diaspora can be met within the country. As a starter to accommodate those elements that espouse opposition politics (the legal ones!) the policy should create a venue where such folks can freely support legal oppositions. Make sure the CSO law will not be used to stifle such folks. In another word the policy should explicitly say any returnee diaspora with foreign nationality ought not be discriminated based on the CSO law.
Also, the institutions that will be created by policy should have a mandate to overcome party politics. The institutions should not be entangled with the EPRDF party since EPRDF. I say this because already the Missions abroad are having hard time to reach out the large community because the channels that are used to mobilize the grass root are staffed by people claiming EPRDF members! And we all know EPRDF is not strong overseas thus could not mobilize the community. If such treatment is what will be awaiting the returnee diaspora then it may not work. The issue will not be unique to EPRDF it will be the same for the next winning party also! Just detach diaspora office from party politics.
If possible , let the policy have an arm to monitor evaluate and evolve as times goes by. Today’s need of the country may not be the need of tomorrow and when change is needed the change should not come abrupt. Make sure those affected are consulted. Change will be needed for sure and I for one do not want to see “Yeh! yeriyekum” meaning let ” God judge you” type of community created out of those that would be affected by the changes… transparency!
Over all from what I read the policy is sound but like everything else in the country these days the issue is do we have the capacity to implement it?
Thanks
I totally agree with Gezaee H. above. What the government needs is not another Diaspora Policy but a good governance policy that doesn’t dehumanize Ethiopians living in Ethiopia. After all let’s face it; this policy is a tactical gimmick by the government to dampen the vociferous criticism directed by the Diaspora. Since EPRDF cannot arrest, torture or intimidate these boisterous and unruly critics as it does at home, it wants to bribe them with bits and pieces of benefits and entice them with dodgy investment projects. A good starting point will be for the government to respect its own law and start implementing a democratic system of governance so that citizens don’t torch themselves out of sheer frustration by their own government. The government needs to relax its chokehold on the Ethiopian economy so that all Ethiopians, independent of ethnicity, religion or political association, have equal access and equal rights under the law to prosper or fail.
When Ethiopians living in Ethiopia feel empowered and at home in their own homeland, then all the Diaspora criticism will fall in deaf ears and eventually vanish into the sunset. When that happens the government does not need to waste precious hard currency by flying around bureaucrats and cadres and wasting thousands and thousands in hall rentals to organize the Diaspora. The Diaspora will organize itself and will be flooding the embassies of Ethiopia across the globe with ideas, and permissions to invest. Friends will be forming investment associations and will be knocking at the gates of each and every ministry in Addis for information and permits. For this to happen all the government has to do is respect its own people and most of all STOP LYING to them.
Respectfully,
-Surafel
I think the irrevocable bestowal of citizenship upon anyone born to Ethiopian parents should be the basis of the diaspora policy/strategy.
Such privilege would encourage the Diaspora to invest in Ethiopia as it places an irrevocable link.
-Haben
Great Idea and Great Policy
Keywords in the policy, as it apears to me, are: ‘remittance development-nexus’, ‘developmental inclusion of diaspora’, and ‘harmonious nation building’, ‘diaspora and ethiopian government’, ‘GTP’.
I believe the new policy aims to trigger new wave of inclusion of the hetroto marginalised segment of the Ethiopian diaspora (among the silent majority). As I observe, a great number of Ethiopians who reside outside of their homeland, face helplessness in mitigating their own present and past predicaments. The new policy partly adresses these concerns; b/c the policy stipulates the plans and mechanizms of helping the diaspora in systemic manner. I see that as strong element. Yet, still the policy could go one step further.
Since the Ethiopian governemnt opened its eyes about the benifits of engaging diaspora, especially after the Expatraits Department was created in the MFA, the positive role of Diaspora was drastically enhanced. The veryfact of embracing the Diaspora with all its own weaknesses, was one of the brilliance of the Ethiopian governemnt policies along this front. As a relut few can discount the reward of that engagement, because diaspora’s developmental involvement has contributed towards achieveing the present Ethiopia’s global status as country with fastest growing economy.
There is not doubt, in the eyes of a realist, the ones who were included,so far, to participate in development activities in their countries have enjoyed undeniable privilages and incentives from Ethiopian government. But still, most are locked out in a cold becasue of ‘fear’ or past disappointments. To give chance to such segment of ‘Diaspora’ community, is it not good idea to back the diaspora development linkages (or the new policy ) with additional string of ‘amnesty or political reconsilations’ or somekind of ‘act’ that guarantees past political related mistakes are forgiven as long as people repent about them and resolve not to repeat them. In other words, de-politisization of the diaspora would help focusing on extracting the development potential of people of Ethiopian origin. I hope there will be explicity about giving second chance for people who choose to correct their past mistakes inorder for them to participate in developement of their country.
Rgds.
It has been 4 years since I returned to Ethiopia after 21 years in USA. I came with my wife and 3 children, and with my family’s life time savings. I started a small clinic, and paid a developer (Berta Construction) most of my savings (over $200,000) to build a house I dreamt of for my family. The company took my money, and stopped bulding the house years ago. I thought there was rule of law in the country, and the government would protect new comers from the diaspora like me. I tried to get justice from the Addis Aaba city administration, the court system, etc. and none of them enabled me to get my money back, or force Berta Construction to finish the house. Berta Construction and its officials stole money from many in the Diaspora like me, and have been bribing everyone in the government to get away with their crime. Simply there is no where to get justice. If this happened in the USA, or any country where is a rule of law, Berta owners would be in jail for years. Unfortunately, not in Ethiopia. I hope people in government read this, and help us get our money back.
Allow me to take a liberty to give reply to my compatriot participant with the name ‘Ewnetu 1′ above.
‘Ewnetu 1′ suggessted the policy if it could be renamed. And he has rightly pointed out the root of a word ‘diaspora’ with particular reference to ‘jewish exodos’ or their ‘diaspora community’.
However, my take is that: the ethiopian ‘diaspora policy’ is rightly named because of two main reasons. 1) ‘Diaspora’ as word underwent its own ethmologenesis and reached the level of development concept refering to citizens of a country living abroad who have great development potential by their ‘remittance’ ,’Investment’ or other ways; 2) ‘DIASPORA’ has been a common phrase used by universally applicable global development strategies. From MDG, Lisbon Consens of 2006, for that matter ‘Lome to Yawunde’ , ‘Contonou Agreements’, etc. mainly in development strategies of ACP countries all use Diaspora to mean exactly what the current Ethiopian Diaspora polciy tries to mean. Hence keeping the term unchanged will help us communicate globally.
It’s about time that the government recognizes the important role the diaspora can play. We can learn a lot from the Israelis, Phillipinos, Mexicans, Indians, etc. and build our country with the experience, capital, networks, and lots of good ideas we can go back with. My compatriots have already posted some detailed suggestions for the government consideration, and this open discussion should be encouraged. In general, the government has a lot to do in its part. It has to convince the diaspora beyond reasonable doubt that it is genuinely safe to invest, and live a peaceful and productive life in Ethiopia. When I read stories about returnees being robbed off their investment, be it in business deals or house building, and have no credible recourse for justice, that scares me. Having a diaspora policy is good. But seeing jutice served, corruption controlled, and fradulent practices preying on the diaspora effectively stopped is much more important. It would certainly encourage me to return, and work for Ethiopia’s renaissance.
The policy is wonderful but the question -
1st) Does the government expect every diaspora to suport EPRDF?
2nd) How will the government see those diaspora who do not and will never support the current ideology of ‘ethnic or language based federalism’?
3rd) Will the government be ready if the diaspora ask for the rule of law, accountability and transparency in their partcipation according to the policy?
God/Alah bless Ethiopia
To be honest I would love to return to Ethiopia with my family as soon as possible. It is a dream that I have to participate with my long experience in the sector of my profession.
But I have some issues.
First, I’m Amhara and a I feel the governmt hates me for things some Amhara Kings supposedly done before I was even born. I have had this feeling as long as I remember and as long as EPRDF is on power. I feel I’m not wanted in Ethiopia and the only way I feel home is when somehow EPRDF is removed. That is my feeling. I know my opinion is not much use for Aiga, EPRDF & co. just because I happen to be Amhara.
Secondly, I feel EPRDF hates Diasporas, that is at least I get from many EPRDF supporters in discussion and in forums etc. They call Diasporas extremists and every bad name just for asking basic human rights and having different understanding of democracy and the economy. I mean even now the Diaspora community contributes to the Ethiopian economy by sending money more than Ethiopia’s exports combined do. But because they ask for basic human rights and rule of law, I have a feeling the government hates them so much.
Third, EPRDF has a very bad image in the diaspora community because of its bad action taking against human rights activists, journalists, opposition leaders etc. I don’t know any other government that works so hard to have a very bad image of itself like that of EPRDF. Look at what they have done to young political leaders and journalists recently. This kind of behavior creates a very bad image for the government. They have to know that no one buys their propaganda. And if EPRDF thinks this kind of bad image do not matter to the diaspora, they are dead wrong. They also seem not to take the fact that the diaspora lives in free and Democratic countries with so much information accessible freely. They always come up with silly explanations and propaganda as if we have only ETV as a sole source of information.
But the most important thing what I fear living in Ethiopia is that I may not get justice when something happens to me or my family. I have a feeling that there is no justice in Ethiopia. If you or your teenage kids somehow have something with the government, then you are finished. No justice, no rule of law, it is just a lost case. And I will die as a free man in foreign country than a slave in my own country.
The inflation and corruption is also a concern. I don’t know how someone get a mental satisfaction by gains that are made by bribing hundreds of officials. You have to lose some sense of self respect to accept such practice of moral decay.
The government should first and for most start with it’s attitude towrds diaspora..I have noticed that even the most politicaly shroud and reserved Meles Zenawi doesn’t seem to be able to control his contempt for the diaspora when he recently said on parliament he doesn’t not have a fallacy of Ethiopia growing because of the diaspora..regadless of wither his statment is true or not, you don’t make such a nagative statment about group of people with a considreable number who can make a diffrence to their society of given the opportunity…cos no single sector of society by itself makes a diffrence to a country and Ethiopians in excile are just one aspect of Ethiopian society if not the most important ..What people often fail to realize is, one of the root causes for ethiopia’s many problems is it’s history of isolation hence it’s society tents to be less enovative due to luck of exposure. therefore one can’t underestimate the contribution any diaspora with or without formal education can make by bringing in new ideas and lifestyle that can in a long run help the people in ethiopia live better. I for example am not the most educted person but every time i travle home I am often shocked by how naive and inexperianced people can be on simple health and safty issues dispite their age and qaulifications. So my point is the diaspora should not only be appriciated for it’s pocket and qualification but for it’s invisible but valueble life expiriance…so please arrogance aside and try to see things in the best interest of the country and it’s future…the problem with Ethiopian poleticians is they think being a good cadre is enough to control a country. hence they ignore the socio-economic asspect of running a country. they hate the idea of seeing other people outside politics living a better life than them, they hate the idea of other people outside politics driving better car than them…oh no, do i want to get in to the most rediculious custom duty in human history? ……other than that a lot has been said about the corruption and lack of will to help..
well, it is much easier to put it on paper than to put it to work. After 2005 election, EPRDF understood it has to enggage the diaspora in a meaningful way. However, it lasted only few years when they even reversed the duty free previlage they gave us after they make sure their cronies used and abused the program. It is only in ethiopia where a $2000 worth personal use vehicle is taxed $17000 when it gets to ethiopia. I don’t know what to call this other than legal robery of citizens by corrupt officials. Let those doctors and professors at least take their cars to the benefit of the job they want to do in ethiopia.
It is always beneficial for both the Ethiopian government and the diaspora to engage in civilized conversation about everything concerning Ethiopia and Ethiopians. There are well-meaning diaspora Ethiopians who genuinely want to contribute their share to take the country out of backwardness and poverty. But the government has to at least create conducive environment for those who want to serve the country with their acquired knowledge and experience. At least, the government should allow duty free personal use vehicle for them so that they don’t have to face the horror of transportation problem in addis or elsewhere in Ethiopia. This is the least and very important incentive the government should offer. If an embassy stuff is allowed to take vehicles upon returning why is intellectuals are not given
The same privilege ?
It’s about time a well thought and encouraging document like the one here is out there for the diaspora. I, for one, am willing to ascribe this document for eliciting more contribution, either in the form of giving back financially or intellectually, to the motherland. This, I would hope, is the first step to engage the diaspora in a positive manner. I also envision the inputs from the diaspora as critical for the implementation of this document as the follow up by the ETH government. I would finally say GOOD FIRST STEP.
It is a good idea in dead to have a policy that would involve the diaspora. However, the fact remains un answered by many government officials, that if there is a new diaspora policy, who the hell are going to implement it? The same slow, un tallented, less educated, biased, full of complex and jealousy staffs of embassies? if so, you are just pulling our legs and the government is also wasting its precious time. The diaspora should be given the opportunity to oversee(check its implementation) through its own elected or selected members of the diaspora group who come from different walk of life and different host countries). If this to happen, I strongly believe it would encourage the silent majority to come forward to invest, knowledge transfer or even to volunteer for that matter in his home nation, Ethiopia. I think the diaspora is tired and sick of the lies and deceit of the EPRDF cadres to say the least. Believe you me this is not a negative but rather a positive critic, if there is a listening positive ear.
Let’s not go other direction, for sure we are living in democratic as well as educated and civilized society. what about the daispora? are we learning from the society we live with to be open minded and respect eachother here? I do not think so, my experience whether we live in usa, canada or Germany, we are the society who do not learn from other society. Wake up men, be realistic instead of talking politics of Ethiopia, start to talk how we live and prosper here, you living in golden bed but you could not open your eyes and use it. Go to school, stop driving taxi, cleaning white people’s office. Then you will be a human being here where you live mean you will be able to win life. One thing wether you get dual citizenship or not if you change your identity you are a foreigner to your bithplace country and do not interfer with their politics or adminstration, you do not belong to them. They can throw you out any time from their country. The yellow i.d is nothing but genrousity of the govrnment to let you live and invest short of citizenship, accept it or not that how it works in Ethiopia and else where like Ghana, Nigeria, Cambodia ASK if you want more info. to their nationalities respectively. Other thing, I have read the draft, is good but diaspora participation in Financial sector is not included like buying shares, forming a Bank with or without Ethiopian citizens. I believe the paper is not a final just a draft, waiting for the detaled outcome.
thankx
A reply to Daniel,
i think you have shallow information about to day’s Ethiopia and lack of poletical consciousness to grasp the reality beyond the curtain or you are hand to mouth creature who thinks that whoever marries my mother is my father , there are ppls in the diaspora who have up to date information what is going on in Ethiopia, i don’t understand why you oppose the concerns of those who are arguing this draft, after all they are dealing with TPLF corrupt cadres on the ground not with the draft, so i advice you to come out from this darkeness of thinking in which you are and to ask yourself: Is my mind simply an organ that could be conditioned by primitive necessities? or it defines my
autonomy of existance in this complex cercumstances.
I felt there should be more can be included into the new diaspora policy,such as tax free on personal belongings for returnees (after 5 years or more).Most of the time if there is policy as such only serve the very rich ones not for the ordinary person such as employee of a company earning normal wages. At the moment you have to be a millionare to invest or to return to ethiopia.Most of us love to move back to our homeland,it is my everyday dream to move back,take all belonging I have here and not worry about the GUMRUCK charging me for everything I brought back(from used furniture to my old spoon I had for many years).Surely if I want to move back and contribute to my country,why would have these obstacles.Any other african countries this is not an issue,so why in ETHIOPIA.
If they really want the policy to be successful they have to give some inorder to get some.It works both ways.
I do not think this is asking to much,no one want to start from scratch after all these years. Most of us love Ethiopia! and help our people.
I hope they adjust the policy to suit all ethiopians abroad(can not wait to go back)
The role of Ethiopian Diaspora plays an important role in attracting remittance, investments, transfer of knowledge and entrepreneurial networks. The Ethiopian diaspora seek economic opportunity and help in the growth of their country.
Thus the one suggestion every Ethiopian Diaspora would want in the new policy, is to allow returning Diasporas their personal effects free of taxation. I have travelled and worked in several countries, and all my personal effects went in and out of those palaces without being taxed. In fact, in the Middle East they paid the shipping cost of my personal effects.
Therefore, I suggest in Art 6.5.1. be amended to include all household effects, office equipment and supplies, professional belongings such computers, printers, GIS, GPS, Total Station, Electronic Devices, etc…, including personal vehicles to be tax free.
In conclusion, any asset entering the country is public good. I am quite sure there myriad of needs the Ethiopian Diaspora does want. I encourage more people to have more input, because the articles need to be expanded more to cover our basic needs.
Corrigenda:
The last para should read: I am quite sure, there are myriac of need the Ethiopian Diaspora does want.