Migration policy framework for Africa and plan of action (2018 – 2030) 3. Diaspora engagement Agenda 2030 recognises the positive contribution that migrants make to inclusive growth and sustainable development. Migrants often maintain a web of connections with their home States, creating beneficial feedback effects such as the transfer of remittances, knowledge, skills and technology, as well as joint business ventures, and short and long-term return migration. Strengthening these feedback effects by enhancing collaboration with the African Diasporas is a key aspect of fostering the migrationdevelopment nexus, and was identified by NEPAD as a sectoral priority within its Human Resource Development Initiative. Agenda 2063 aspires to a dynamic and mutually beneficial links with her Diaspora. In 2005, the AU declared the Diaspora the structure’s sixth region, with one of the AU’s objectives being to invite and encourage the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of our continent, in the building of the African Union. It requests in Agenda 2063 first 10 Year Implementation Plan that Member States ratify the protocol on the amendments to the Constitutive Act to enable the Diaspora to participate in the AU by 2023. 20 Seats have been allocated to the African Diaspora in the AU Economic, Social, and Cultural Council; and the AUC Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) was established in 2001 to address issues related to Diasporas and homeland governments. 42 In 2012, the first Global African Diaspora Summit was held in South Africa, at which a key Declaration and five “legacy projects” were adopted: the production of a Skills Database of African Professionals in the Diaspora; b) the establishment of the African Diaspora Volunteers Corps; c) the African Diaspora Investment Fund; d) a programme on the Development Marketplace for the Diaspora, as a framework for facilitating innovation and entrepreneurship among African and Diaspora; and e) the African Institute for Remittances. Agenda 2063’s first 10 Year Implementation Plan states that all legacy projects should be functional and contributing to the growth of the continent by 2023. Member States should also have in place a dual citizenship programme for the Diaspora and focal points or national agencies for Diaspora affairs. It also calls on Member States to leverage Diaspora remittances and savings for the implementation of the first 10 Year Implementation Plan. Despite these initiatives, there are still major limitations to the inclusion of Diasporas in development policy and practice. First, there is a need to build trust among public institutions that deal with Diaspora, with a particular focus on diplomatic missions and targeted outreach programmes. Second, Member States face challenges in maintaining reliable data on individuals and organisations within the Diaspora, as well as on remittances, often lacking the capacity to map and record the Diaspora. Third, there is a dearth of national policies and strategic plans on Diaspora engagement, with existing policies rarely harmonised within regional and continental frameworks. In addition to these challenges, the younger second and third generation Diaspora remains a relatively untapped resource for origin communities.