International Network of Alternative Financial Institutions (INAFI International) recently signed partnership agreements with CGMD, FAAL, and DFD to collaborate the project “Harnessing the potentials of remittances for development in Africa by linking microfinance institutions (MFIs) and immigrant associations in Europe”(MIGR/2008/153-811), a three-year project funded by the European Commission. The project aims to actively involve diaspora organizations in various activities by forging partnerships.
Soukeyna Ndiaye Ba, Executive Director of INAFI and Pape Sene, President of Coordination Générale des Migrants pour le Développement (CGMD) signed the partnership agreement after the workshop was conducted at the Centre culturel ELZENHOF in Brussels last November 26. The workshop was attended by about 65 participants representing various African diaspora organizations based in Belgium. CGMD is a federation of various diaspora organizations based in Belgium which are actively involved in migration and development.
In Luxembourg, INAFI signed partnership agreement with the Federation des Associations Africaines du Luxembourg (FAAL) represented by David Foka, President of FAAL. FAAL is a federation of African diaspora organizations based in Luxembourg which primary objective is to facilitate integration of migrants and combat racism and discrimination. Ndiaye Ba signed the agreement representing INAFI International last November 30 at Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg.
Then on December 3, partnership agreement was signed between INAFI International and Diaspora Forum for Development (DFD) at The Hub, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. DFD D) is a platform of more than 40 diaspora organizations, platforms and networks representing more than 30 countries coming from Africa, Latin America and Asia. Santo Deng signed the agreement on behalf of DFD.
The Migrant Tour was launched last October 21 in Montreaux, Switzerland where INAFI signed partnership agreement with World Diaspora Fund, a Swiss-based Cooperative which offer migrants a secure investment vehicle that will contribute to the development of their countries of origin. WDF invests through loans, guarantees, or even taking stakes in microfinance institutions in the South. The Fund will also participate in financing infrastructure identified by the migrants. The WDF also invests through guarantees, loans and equity in Microfinance institutions that are regulated and sustainable. It will also participate to the co-financing of infrastructures proposed by the migrants. The WDF will invest through loans, guarantees, or even taking stakes in microfinance institutions in the South. The Fund will also participate in financing infrastructure identified by the migrants.
The project to foster the links between migration and development is being implemented by IINAFI International and Oxfam Novib. The project aims to achieve financial access for migrants and families, and enhance money transfer competition by providing knowledge, technical assistance, and building partnerships to and with immigrant associations in Europe, microfinance institutions in Africa and money transfer operators.
The project will train and enable 10 microfinance institutions (MFIs) located in 10 Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda) to increase their competitive edge in money transfers services and other financial-driven instruments. It will also enable MFIs to build partnerships including a co-development program with immigrant associations working or residing in ten European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, UK, Spain, Switzerland, and Sweden).
The Migrant Tour was coordinated by Jean Pouit, Project Manager and Daniela Russo, Project Officer. Leila Rispens-Noel, Senior Advisor of INAFI International also participated in the events conducted in Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands.
