MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA: AN OVERVIEW

Migration is clearly a major issue across Africa. Indeed, migration – both within countries and across borders – can be seen as an integral part of labour mar- kets and livelihoods across much of the continent for at least the last century. Over time, and in different places, migration has taken a number of different forms. It has cut across class and skill boundaries, and exists in widely differ- ent geographical and demographic contexts. Migration represents an important livelihood strategy for poor households seeking to diversify their sources of income, but is also characteristic of the better off, and indeed of many African elites. In practice, however, the link between migration and poverty is often viewed more negatively. It is assumed across much of the continent that it is poverty that forces poor people to migrate, rather than migration being a potential route out of poverty. The poor are also generally seen as those worst affected by conflict-induced migration, itself a prominent feature in Africa. The movement of skilled and/or wealthy Africans is also generally viewed negatively (e.g. there is long-standing concern on the African continent with the impact of the ‘brain drain’ of African professionals). Only slowly, and in relatively few quarters, is understanding emerging of the potentially positive role that migration itself can play in reducing poverty, or of the possibilities for ‘mobilisation’ of the African diaspora in the fight against poverty. Meanwhile, public policy remains a long way from building effectively on such understanding Read more

CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND THE STATE OF ERITREA

During 2005 the political landscape in Eritrea continued to be dominated by the lack of progress towards a peaceful solution in Eritrea – Ethiopian relations. Structural economic imbalances continue to hamper economic development. Weather conditions have been favourable in the highlands comparative to other years, but food security remains a serious issue. In line with the Mid Term Review of the EU - Eritrea Cooperation, signed in 2004, projects, programmes and activities comprise interventions in three main sectors: 1) Infrastructure –including Transport and Energy 2) Rehabilitation and Recovery Programmes, covering reconstruction of economic and social infrastructure, resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons, demobilization and de-mining and 3) Education. During 2005 progress was made towards the implementation of EU funded programs in most sectors. Problems were faced in the completion of certain tender procedures and in the implementation of the de-mining program. As shown in Annex I, in 2005 some €19M have been disbursed in Eritrea, of which €3.8M out of budget lines financed projects. The forecasts for 2006, provided in Annex VII, indicate that disbursements shall take place at a quicker pace: it is anticipated that some €29.9M will be paid out during this year, of which €6.8M from budget lines. For 2007, forecasted disbursement will further accelerate to €39.9M, of which some €4M from budget lines Readmore

PROFILE OF THE SOMALI REFUGEES IN EMKULU CAMP ERITREA

he Somali refugees in Emkulu Camp Eritrea are mainly of the Madiban tribe who immigrated to Djibouti region after the down fall of President Siad Barre in 1992. They crossed from Djibouti to Eritrea in 1993 in search of better protection and job opportunities and settled in Assab, the second largest port city of Eritrea. The influx of refugees from Djibouti towards Assab was never-ending and UNHCR established a refugee camp about 20 kms. South of Assab at Harsile Camp. The camp did not last long due to the war that took place between Ethiopia and Eritrea in 1998. Yet again the same refugees were relocated from Harsile Camp to Emkulu Camp. Currently Emkulu Camp hosts over 4000 Somali refugees and even now there are new arrivals each month. The first arrivals have resided in the camp for the last 8 years and have good relationship with the locals in Emkulu district and the vicinity Read more