Upon the invitation of UNICEF Armenia and in the framework of EU funded project “Social Response to Labour Migration”, CEO of Diaspora Matters consulting company Kingsley Aikins visitied Armenia in early February. He met government officials, representatives of the Ministry of Diaspora to share international experience of engagement with Diasporas in Armenia.

- What is going on in the world of Diasporas taking into consideration recent developments: migration crisis, global terror treats, etc? What are the main challenges for Diasporas in terms of keeping national identity?

- A lot is happening in spheres connected with Diasporas. Traditionally there were 4-5 countries active in Diaspora engagement. Now there are about 75 countries. There are many countries, including Armenia, that have Ministries of Diaspora. Countries began to realize they have such a thing as Diaspora’s capital in the face of compatriots living overseas. Technology and communication are making things possible which were unimaginable before. We now view as national assets people who left the country and whom we might have thought irretrievable lost. But you can’t cultivate those assets unless you put to use right strategies and engage with these people. That’s about policies, projects, programs.

Kingsley Aikins

Photo: Mediamax

- Does each country need specific policy or strategy to engage with its Diaspora?

- I think there are a lot of similarities between programs which countries carry out in relations with Diaspora. Diaspora is a participant in many countries in the world today by the means of remittances, and by charity projects in others; many countries have trade and investments projects, and those countries already have projects on development of areas like Diaspora tourism, education, Diaspora volunteering, Diaspora mentoring.

These things were reinforced by technology and communication, which means that Diasporas are in permanent connection with the homeland, whereas in the old days people who left the country for overseas were considered to be gone forever. But now people are moving back and forth, and it is a different world. 

- In your opinion, how effectively does Armenia use potential of its Diaspora?

- You are very lucky in Armenia. You have extremely successful, very well-known, recognized international Diaspora, particularly in certain countries like Russia, USA and France. You have a great plus. You also have the Ministry of Diaspora, hundreds of Diaspora organizations. I think you have a great advantage over many other countries. Now you have potential to take this to another level.         

- What are the main mistakes countries do in engaging with Diasporas?

- Countries do make mistakes in engaging their Diasporas. Mistake Number 1 is to think it is all about getting money from Diaspora as much as you can and it is the only thing that we want. That’s a very one-dimensional, very simplistic look at Diasporas. Eventually, that policy begins to annoy and irritate Diasporas. Countries can be simplistic in their mathematics. Life is not like that.

Kingsley Aikins

Photo: Mediamax

You need different strategies. Some countries think that Diaspora is one homogeneous entity, where all like each other. They don’t. In fact, you could argue that Armenia has not one but hundreds of Diasporas and they are quite different, diverse. So, Diaspora engagement is not an easy business. It is a long term “hearts and minds business”. You can’t win quickly; it does not work like that. However, rewards can be very extensive. The countries who have achieved impressive results in relations with Diasporas, e.g. Israel, China, India, and Ireland, realized that patience is required. They also realized that Diasporas had to benefit in some way from those relations and began to implement different types of  strategies. Actually, it is important to differentiate a state, e.g. Armenia, and Armenian nation, which is a global notion. This differentiation will allow to rightly use Diaspora’s potential.

- How do you assess effectiveness of repatriation programs implemented by home countries? 

- A lot of countries have return young talents programs, but most of them don’t work, mainly because very often people in Diaspora are doing very well and they prefer to stay there. Perhaps, it might be better for Armenia if people, who are very successful in Diaspora, stay there connected to the homeland rather than come back here and achieve nothing. So the challenge for many countries is to improve the economy, to motivate investments from the Diaspora, to create enabling conditions. I am sure things are not perfect in any country, but people are moving around like never before. Particularly, young people are moving and you can’t stop it. They go where opportunity is. Cities are becoming cosmopolitan hubs in global underground, and Yerevan needs to be a station in that underground.  

Yekaterina Poghosyan talked to Kingsley Aikins

Photo: Mariam Loretsyan