Engaging, Enabling and Empowering the Somali diaspora in Italy

This publication gathers the lessons learned from IOM longstanding collaboration with the Somali diaspora in Italy. In particular, it distils a few elements for a model to empower diaspora associations, which reveal themselves extremely dynamic and increasingly mixed. Part of the findings of this study reveal the value of ensuring diasporas’ full participation in the social, civic, economic, political and cultural life of the countries of residence. This study reveals that Somali diaspora organizations in Italy initially focused on facilitating the integration of conationals, then evolved in scope and vision and became more active, transnationally, in development and peacebuilding processes, mobilizing resources in Italy and Somalia. As such, this publication further reveals virtuous processes whereby integration can leverage access to empowerment opportunities, and engagement in development processes, in turn, further enhance the social, cultural, civic, political and economic participation of diasporas in the societies they bridge.