Cabo Verde Expands Diaspora Integration Efforts Through Digital Week Initiative

Cabo Verde is strengthening its efforts to engage diaspora professionals and entrepreneurs as part of a broader strategy to build a more connected and investment-driven innovation ecosystem.

Charles Uche Emembolu, CEO of Crestsage Limited, highlighted the initiative during Cabo Verde Digital Week 2026, where he noted progress in transforming diaspora engagement into structured, long-term ecosystem participation.

The event, held in Praia under the Government of Cabo Verde’s RABIDA Initiative, featured the SIKABADU Onboarding Program, which brought together diaspora entrepreneurs from Africa, Europe, and North America. The program focused on creating practical pathways for participants to reconnect with local markets and contribute through investment, enterprise development, and knowledge transfer.

According to Emembolu, the engagement involved interactions between diaspora founders, local startups, government representatives, and ecosystem stakeholders, with the aim of aligning global expertise with domestic opportunities. Early outcomes, he said, included growing collaboration between diaspora entrepreneurs and local businesses, as well as increased alignment of talent and emerging capital channels.

He emphasized that Cabo Verde is positioning its diaspora not as an external resource, but as an integral part of its national economic ecosystem. The approach reflects a shift toward structured mechanisms that enable sustained participation and value creation rather than ad hoc engagement.

The RABIDA Initiative and SIKABADU Program were described as key components of this strategy, marking a transition from policy intent to practical implementation. The programs are supported by a consortium of partners, including Crestsage Limited, Civitta, mLab Southern Africa, ADYFE Consulting Group, and Fundação Smart City Cabo Verde, with backing from the World Bank and other funders.

Stakeholders involved in the initiative expressed optimism that such efforts could serve as a model for other countries seeking to leverage diaspora networks to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development.

Observers note that diaspora-focused programs are increasingly being adopted across emerging economies as governments seek to tap into global talent pools, attract investment, and accelerate the growth of local innovation ecosystems.