On 25 November 2015, the Director of CIDO, Dr. Jinmi Adisa and staff of the Diaspora Division including Mr. Ahmed El Basheer, Head, Diaspora Division and Diaspora Desk Officers, Ms. Eiman Kheir and Mr. Kyeretwie Akwasi Osei met with a Sierra Leone delegation led by Mr. Kallay Conteh, Director of the Office of the Diaspora Affairs in the Office of the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Mr. Kallah Conteh explained that his office was relatively new and he had come to the Commission to meet with CIDO to support capacity building of his office and to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and collaboration with the competent arm of the AU, the Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO).

In the ensuing discussion, the Director and CIDO staff underlined the importance of formulating a concise Diaspora engagement policy aligned specifically with the objectives of the Republic of Sierra Lone and the wider regional interests of the African Union. They also stressed the need to map the Sierra Leone Diaspora in terms of where they are, the locations of concentration, the pattern of dispersal, age groups, occupation, interests and capacities. The mapping outcomes should then be matched with a needs assessment in terms of what Sierra Leone wants to achieve in its engagement with the Diaspora. The interaction of assets and needs will then create the framework for dynamic and purposive engagement.

The discussion further highlighted the benefits and prospects of collaboration between Sierra Leone and CIDO within the framework of the outcomes of the Global African Diaspora Summit of May 2012 and its Legacy projects. Finally, it focused on sharing good practices of other African countries as well as those of China, India and the Middle-East.

The meeting which was chaired by Dr. Adisa was concluded with agreement on a framework of collaboration with CIDO and the AU.