Day : Sep 06 2024

On the Whitsun weekend (03 and 04 June 2017), the first German-African Diaspora Conference took place in Dortmund. More than 120 participants with different migration backgrounds found their way to the International

Centre of Encounter. Meeting Centre on the campus of the Technical University to attend the conference. Guests had also travelled from abroad. The thematic framework of the conference was the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Decade for People of African Descent. Within this context, development policy issues were discussed that are particularly relevant for African countries.
As it would have been impossible to address the 17 goals in two days, the conference set a focus on 4 goals. These were: SDG 4 Education, SDG 10 Reduce inequalities, SDG 16 Peace and security and SDG 17 Partnerships to achieve the goals. The main questions addressed during the two days were: How can sustainable partnerships between countries in the Global North and countries in the Global South be created? Where do partnerships between African countries also make sense? And: What role can the diaspora play in achieving the goals together?
The two-day conference was opened by Dr Ümit Kosan, Managing Director VMDO (Verbund der sozial-kulturellen Migrantenvereine in Dortmund e.V.). Afterwards, the First Secretary of the Embassy of Uganda, Ms Margaret Otteskor, addressed the visitors, emphasising the contribution of the diaspora to development in the home countries.The two-day conference was opened by Dr Ümit Kosan, Managing Director VMDO (Verbund der sozial-kulturellen Migrantenvereine in Dortmund e.V.). Afterwards, the First Secretary of the Embassy of Uganda, Ms Margaret Otteskor, addressed the visitors, emphasising the contribution of the diaspora to development in the home countries.The two-day conference was opened by Dr Ümit Kosan, Managing Director VMDO (Verbund der sozial-kulturellen Migrantenvereine in Dortmund e.V.). Afterwards, the First Secretary of the Embassy of Uganda, Ms Margaret Otteskor, addressed the visitors, emphasising the contribution of the diaspora to development in the home countries.The two-day conference was opened by Dr Ümit Kosan, Managing Director VMDO (Verbund der sozial-kulturellen Migrantenvereine in Dortmund e.V.). Afterwards, the First Secretary of the Embassy of Uganda, Ms Margaret Otteskor, addressed the visitors, emphasising the contribution of the diaspora to development in the home countries.