Attached File:
registration formSouth Africans in the Diaspora have a positive role to play in helping Africa to address challenges of scarce skills, research and innovation, strengthening the higher education sector and promoting skills transfer to the continent.
This is therefore a clarion call to all South Africans working and staying in Switzerland to register with the Embassy providing information about their skills and/or profession including institution(s)/organisation(s) they work for. The information obtained will be utilised to update the current Embassy database. In addition the list will assist the Embassy in establishing the number of South Africans in the country and the fields in which they are and/or the types of skills they have acquired.
Recently the African Union (AU) declared the Diaspora as its sixth economic region. The declaration is an acknowledgement and recognition of the value Diaspora can add in the development of the standard of living of the people on the Continent. It is therefore within this context that we would like mobilise South Africans living in Switzerland and determine how their skills could be harnessed.
The Embassy‘s initiative is in line with the AU’s initiative whose objectives are:
• To create sustainable partnerships between the African Diaspora and the African Continent through a realizable programme of action
• To create sustainable dialogue, partnerships and strengthening of Pan African solidarity for a better Africa and its Diaspora
• To promote South-South cooperation for the betterment of the African continent and its Diaspora
It should also be noted that there are quite a number of Diaspora networks which are operational in Switzerland, with professionals who are prepared to contribute either individually or through their institutions, towards the development of their countries of origin, in particular, and Africa in general. On the home front there are various initiatives such as Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA) and Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) aimed at fast tracking economic growth and development through skills acquisition.
Once again, this is an appeal to all our patriotic nationals to heed the call and make themselves available for the service and betterment of their country. The country is in dire need of your skills.
No contribution is too Small or too Big!!! And this means YOU!!!
(Please note that the database list will be kept private and secure at all times and in no way it will be published without the permission of the individuals involved.)
