Diaspora Development Fund: In 2020/21, the MSDG piloted a Diaspora Development Fund (DDF) through a Gambia Diaspora Technical Support (GDTS) scheme. Ten (10) Gambian diaspora professionals and development practitioners, referred to as MSDG Fellows were awarded cash grants of €74,890 (Euros) to co-finance development initiatives in Gambia. The MSDG Fellows used the MSDG grant funds as leverage, and successfully generated a further €710,280 (Euros) through cash donations, technical expertise, and in-kind materials, supplies and resources. For every 1 Euro MSDG provided, the pilot generated a further 9.4 Euros. The Fellows comprised 5 women and 5 men, with bases in five countries, namely: Nigeria, Norway, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom and United States. Of the 10 Fellows, 6 are still resident in the diaspora and 4 are recent returnees to Gambia. The pilot scheme provided socioeconomic investment in The Gambia to the value of €785,170 (Euros), equivalent to D49,118,995 (Gambian Dalasis).

MSDG and its partners are pleased to announce the launch of an expanded Diaspora Development Fund (DDF), to provide co-funding and co-finance of up €5,000 (Euros) to diaspora organisations and individuals who are working with partners in Gambia, on local socioeconomic and development projects in Gambia. The application process opens on 15 May 2022 and closes on 15 June 2022.

Gambian Diaspora Strategy: The first ever Gambian Diaspora Strategy (GDS) was fully incorporated in the Gambia National Development Plan (NDP 2018-2021). Four years after its launch, it is important to review and update the Strategy, incorporating lessons learnt from the challenges and successes of implementation. The Gambian Diaspora and Migration Directorate (GDMD) within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leads the review and updating process, in line with the government’s Recovery Focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP 2023-27) and Long Term Development Vision 2050 (LTDV). The role of the diaspora in development and national affairs is reflected in all the local, sectoral and thematic consultations within the country. However, it is also important to hear directly from the Gambians living abroad, through online consultations, written submissions and engagement with the NDP team. Diaspora input is needed on the range of thematic and specialist issues, in addition to diaspora-development matters.