The vulnerabilities African migrants face in their destination countries often leads to the establishment of migrant networks. While abroad, African migrants maintain connections to Africa, sometimes through connections to other African migrants. Over the years, African migrant networks’ mechanisms have evolved from facilitating currency exchange to becoming sources of information on education, politics, entrepreneurship, trade, where and how to rent a home, medical support, and other aspects of a migrant’s life. These networks have however remained largely informal. African leaders have begun engaging in ‘diaspora affairs’ and lauding migrants for their role in ‘nation building’ evidenced by the large remittance inflows to Africa. Such responses are seen by Africans abroad as a cash cow stamp on them. This blog post identifies positive ways Africa can harness the potential of and help develop African migrant networks.
What are migrant networks?
Migration research has shown that networks exist based on solidarity principles such as trust, migrant similarities, culture, lifestyle, and language [1]. Asides providing social capital for migrants, networks lower the risks associated with migration and act as a coping strategy for migrants [2].
Migrant networks vary in size; most are one-on-one, others involve large groups of individuals coming together on common interests. Some networks are not only based on national, cultural or ethnic identity but are sometimes fashioned with themes such as entrepreneurship, professionalism, and political affiliation, or built on certain functions such as marketplace and money transfer. These networks share information, ensure the well being of members, facilitate socialization through regular meetings and events and serve as resource channels to Africa. Most migrant network support structures have remained informal and more recently have become digital. Digital platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter and Signal have led to the evolution of migrant networks. African migrant networks bear names such as Ottawa Isokan Yoruba group, Nigerians in Ottawa group, South Africa-Canada forum, Ghanaians living in the UK, Cameroonians living in the UK etc.
Benefits of migrant networks
To African migrants: Migrant networks exist primarily for the benefit of migrants to aid informed decision making, socialization and economic sustenance. Firstly, information is key for migrants because being in a new country poses new problems. Migrant networks assist migrants' financial and social decisions through the provision of information capital. Networks provide information on housing, where to settle in a new country, how to start a business, how to obtain a driver's license, which bank to open an account with, certification in a profession and information on board exams for medical practitioners.
Secondly, migrant networks provide alternatives to formal money exchange institutions. Why would migrants consider alternatives? Alternative exchange structures offer cheap, flexible and negotiable rates. Within the network, members can avoid ‘multiple taxation’ and unfavourable exchange rates, thus maximizing hard earned income. Lastly, Africans migrate to other continents where the culture or lifestyle is different. Networks offer a ‘touch of home’ helping African migrants socialize and manage ‘culture shock’ through constant communication and discussion of familiar issues that migrants are accustomed to.
To the host country: Migrant networks aid integration. Migration Policy International found that migrant networks, though different in composition, affect the economic and social outcomes of migrants facilitating better adjustment to their new society [3]. This is a key benefit to any country where migrants reside in terms of local development and economic participation. Migrant networks pick up where the host countries’ policy stops in integrating migrants. They provide alternatives to settlement programs, which are overwhelmed with requests, assist with getting migrants employed, among other benefits. Some host countries have recognized the importance of migrant networks and have begun integrating African migrant networks into migration policy implementation and supplying resources to sustain them.
To Africa: The biggest benefit to migrant sending countries are remittances. The fact that African migrants maintain some connection to Africa, made possible through the networks they belong to, has spillover effects on the African economy. Remittance inflows as at May 2021 to Nigeria totaled $US 17.2 billion (4% of GDP), for Senegal, $US 2.5 billion (10.5% of GDP) and Lesotho received $US 427 million in remittances (20.6% of GDP) [4]. Nigerian and Ghanaian governments established the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President (DAOOP) respectively to coordinate remittances for national investment. Both countries are establishing mechanisms to ensure that Africans living abroad are involved in nation building through direct investments in healthcare, agriculture, business, tourism and educational development projects.
In addition to remittances, another benefit of African migrant networks abroad to Africa is the preservation of local African customs and traditions. An example is the Isokan Yoruba group in Ottawa, Canada, a socio-cultural group that seek to promote Nigerian Yoruba cultural heritage abroad. The group embarks on projects in Ottawa, Canada such as hosting Yoruba language classes for children aged 4 years and above [5].
African migrant network challenges
The first realization is that it takes time for Africans to find the right networks. Because these networks are largely informal and based on trust, they are not always visible and accessible. Furthermore, finding a trusted network is another challenge. Many have joined the wrong networks and have been victims of financial fraud.
The second realization is that information is still disaggregated even among African migrant networks. In trying to cut costs, save more, go back to school, get certified in a profession, get drivers’ licenses, and make a host of day to day decisions, many migrants receive ‘how to’ information from a mirage of sources, some of which may be ultimately wrong. A case of an African immigrant to Canada who realized after a few years that he could not naturalize and obtain citizenship in Canada comes to mind. Provincial Nominations in Canada require that a nominee stays put in the province of nomination for a time. In search of work opportunities, this individual moved to another province and ultimately lost his claim to citizenship. This may have been self-inflicted or a simple case of misinformation. The fact is that African migrants spend the better part of their first few years abroad making avoidable mistakes.
Lastly, sustaining and expanding these networks is solely based on the effort of a few people who form the core of the network and the resources they have at their disposal. Sometimes redundant networks are created due to lack of knowledge of similarly existing networks. Thus, migrants join multiple networks performing similar functions, within the same locality, with overlapping membership base.
Africa can (and should) support migrant networks
The fact is, an average African living abroad maintains some connection to Africa, exudes a love for the continent and is ready to contribute to the continent’s development. The overarching question is, in light of this, how have African policy makers reacted to the growing number of African migrants abroad? While Africa quickly embraces massive remittance benefits, extension of benefits to migrants is largely ignored.
Not all African migrants are on an equal economic footing. While this may seem obvious, it needs to be emphasized that many African migrants are underemployed in their new countries. As Africa tries to build its infrastructure and ultimately the African economy on the backs of African migrants, this reality should be taken to heart. Only few African migrants are able to break rank and massively increase their income earning ability over time. Oftentimes, migrants shell out resources to upskill, reskill and re-educate themselves and support this by working more than 2 jobs over long periods of time. Asides using Africans in the diaspora as a poverty alleviation strategy, African policy makers must remember that African migrants don’t have an all together easy experience migrating or settling into their new countries. This should spark some concern from governments who depend so heavily on remittances from them. Those who manage to invest in Africa are not a dime a dozen.
If African countries want to get the best of Africans in the diaspora, they should support migrant networks that serve as coping mechanisms for Africans abroad. Policy makers can consider creating partnerships with existing migrant networks with the purpose of learning from these networks. They can also consider supporting or investing in alternative technologies that facilitate remittances in the manner that protects migrants’ interests (open, flexible and cheap mechanisms). They can consider recognizing and integrating these networks in consular services. This will enable migrants access valuable information and aid in their settlement process. Lastly, organizing events and programs through these networks to assist all migrants, whether students or workers, will help propagate the reach of existing networks.
References
Ojong, V. B. (2012). Pragmatic and symbolic negotiation of home for African migrants in South Africa. Alternation, 19(1), 262-279.
Winkels, A. (2004). Migratory livelihoods in Vietnam: Vulnerability and the role of migrant networks (Doctoral dissertation, University of East Anglia).
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/migrant-social-networks-vehicles-migration-integration-and-development
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/migrationremittancesdiasporaissues/brief/migration-remittances-data
http://www.isokanyoruba.org/
Author's bio
Oluwatobi Ogundele's economics experience and interests have been in the areas of competition law and policy, health and migration. She has masters degrees in Economics and in International Public Policy with specialization in International Economic Relations and Global Governance.
very lovely write-up. Migrant networks are so important in also having a sense of belonging. Loneliness abroad is real and so Africans seek a home away from home by having a community that they can depend on.