At Blue Ocean International, we believe the African diaspora is a powerful, yet underutilized force for transforming coastal cities into hubs of innovation, investment, and sustainability. Our Diaspora Engagement for Coastal Development service is designed to reconnect diaspora communities with their cities of origin—and to align their skills, resources, and influence with the urgent priorities of urban resilience and Blue Economy growth.

We work closely with local governments, diaspora organizations, development partners, and the private sector to build mutually beneficial bridges between diaspora actors and coastal cities across Africa. Our services are structured to ensure that diaspora contributions—whether financial, intellectual, or relational—are aligned with strategic local needs and embedded in sustainable governance frameworks.

Our Services Include:

• Diaspora Mapping and Profiling : We identify and analyze the profiles, skills, and interests of diaspora communities with ancestral or professional links to African coastal cities, helping cities understand who their diaspora is—and how best to engage them.
• Investment Mobilization and Matchmaking : We facilitate diaspora investment into local projects such as sustainable infrastructure, climate-smart businesses, tourism ventures, and ocean innovation start-ups, ensuring transparency, risk mitigation, and impact alignment.
• Diaspora Advisory Councils and Local Policy Support: We help establish formal diaspora advisory bodies at the city level, enabling diaspora professionals to contribute to urban planning, policy development, and Blue Economy strategy.
• Talent Return and Technical Assistance Programs: We design programs that encourage the temporary or permanent return of diaspora experts, entrepreneurs, and academics to support capacity building, technology transfer, and institutional development in coastal sectors.
• Cultural and Economic Diplomacy Events : We curate events, trade missions, and city-branding activities that reconnect diaspora communities with their roots, and position coastal cities as attractive destinations for investment, heritage tourism, and civic pride.
• Diaspora-Focused Funding Proposal Support: We support local authorities and diaspora-led organizations in designing joint funding proposals to international donors interested in migration and development, climate resilience, and diaspora engagement.