Zanzibar, the United Republic of Tanzania – the 6^th Tanzania Diaspora Conference took place from 14 to 15 December 2019 in Zanzibar, the United Republic of Tanzania.

The President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, H.E. Dr Ali Mohamed Shein officially opened the conference which was also attended by High Government Officials from both the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and the United Republic of Tanzania including the Second Vice President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Hon. Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi; the Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania responsible for Environment and Union Affairs, Hon. George Simbachawene, and Ambassador Anisa Mbega, the Director of the Department of Diaspora of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The “theme” of the 6^th Tanzania Diaspora Conference was “Mtu Kwao Ndio Ngao” which means “Someone’s Home is someone’ Shield ”.

The first day of the conference (14 December 2019) was dedicated for visits of potential sites for investments both in terms of development and tourism by the members of the diaspora in Zanzibar.

In his opening remarks on 15 December 2019 (the second day of the conference), H.E. Dr Shein, the President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar said that, history shows that Mobility and Migration are integral part of both the origin and the spread of civilizations, religions, traditions, cultures and languages in the world. The number of people living outside their native countries, which we now call “Diaspora”, is increasing steadily due to globalization and other socio-economic factors. The UN-based statistics show that, in the year 2015, the number of people living outside their native countries has reached 3.3% of the world population compared to only 2.8% in the year 2000. This is the reason why, regional and international bodies and Governments are giving a great importance to Diaspora in participating and contributing to the development of their native countries both financially and professionally and have developed policies aiming at creating enabling environment for diaspora to do so.  In recognition of the importance of Tanzanians living abroad “Wanadiaspora”, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania created a special Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation to address Diaspora Affairs in 2010. At the same time (2010), I set up a unit dealing with Diaspora Affairs within the President's office in Zanzibar and developed Diaspora Policy. 

The primary objectives of the 6^th Tanzania conference were the diaspora to:

1. support their native country with knowledge and skills that it has gained abroad,
2. participate in the investment and trade including Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in their native country,
3. take part in the social assistance as one of the sources of poverty reduction and contribute to community development, and lastly
4. promote tourism industry in their home country.

Dr Qasim Sufi, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission (CoM) and the Acting United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator (RC) and Designated Official (DO) for Security represented the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in the 6^th Tanzania Diaspora Conference from 14 to 15 December 2019 in Zanzibar.

IOM, the UN Migration Agency is one of the ten (10) UN agencies that have offices in the “UN House” in Zanzibar together with UN RCO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, FAO, UNESCO, UN WOMEN, and UNAIDS.

In Zanzibar, IOM in collaboration with three (3) other UN agencies namely UNFPA, UNICEF, UN WOMEN, and the Government Authorities are working in strengthening the Systems to Combat Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) that benefits the community under the UN Zanzibar Joint Programme (ZJP).

For more information, please contact Dr Qasim Sufi, the IOM CoM to the United Republic of Tanzania at: email qsufi@iom.int or telephone +255 682 563 796 or

Ms. Sarah Abdalla,  IOM Programme Assistant in Zanzibar at: email sabdalla@iom.int or telephone +255 679 869 099.