Background  

The formation of PAADN is in response to the Global African Diaspora Summit, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa. 25 May 2012 Diaspora/Assembly/AU/ /Decl (I) wherein the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Caribbean and South America

 
Taking cognizance of the dialogue carried out between Africans on the continent and representatives of the African Diaspora in various regions of the world, including North America, South and Latin America, Europe and elsewhere;


Recalling the Constitutive Act of the African Union that is guided by a common vision of a united and strong Africa based on a partnership between governments and all segments of society in order to strengthen cohesion and solidarity among its peoples;


Also recalling the Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union adopted by the First Extra-Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2003, and in particular Article 3(q) which invites the African Diaspora to participate as an important component in the building of the African Union.

COMMIT to cooperate in the political, economic, health and social areas through:

  • Intergovernmental Cooperation
  • Mobilization of Support
  • Government Action to Foster Increased Economic Partnership
  • Mobilization of Capital
  • Partnership in Business
  • Science and Technology
  • Knowledge Negotiation and Skills Mobilization
  • Infrastructural Development
  • Information Gathering and Dissemination Capacity
  • Climate Change, Sustainable Development and environmental wellbeing
  • Participative Knowledge, Creation and Education
  • Arts and Culture
  • Media and Image Building
  • Immigration and human global mobility
  • Human and People’s Rights
  • Social and Cultural Issues


Mission:
 Members of the diaspora occupy a vantage position between their homeland and their adopted countries. They bridge the cultural divide between East and West, between old and new forms of Africa. They hold the memory of Africa in their adopted countries and indirectly become the unofficial ambassadors of their countries. Diasporic movements have reconfigured geographical spaces, traversed intra and inter-national boundaries. We also know that while we want to maintain our cultural legitimacy, we also need to move with the times and ensure that we are not left behind in the ever developing technological age.

Members of the African diaspora have made valuable contributions to the various countries of their residence, in the areas of science and technology, telecommunication, governance, leadership, education, civics, human right and gender equality, entertainment, arts and culture, business, politics and economics, and have won many international accolades in their fields of endeavour. However, our motherland Africa and its people continue to struggle for a modicum of normal operations and existence let alone pursuit of goals extra to basic survival.

Therefore, our mission is to address the following questions:
  • What can we do to help build a bridge between motherland Africa and our countries of residence with a view to foster creation of enabling environments on the African continent which nurtures creativity and intellectual growth? 
  • How can we use our skills and, especially networks, to foster leading lights on the continent to spearhead sustainable growth and improve the standard of living of our brothers and sisters in Africa? 
  • How can we ensure that such efforts are strategically and equitably distributed to benefit the whole of Africa? 
Aim

To establish Pan African-Australasian Diaspora Network, herein known as PAADN, for collaboration with the African Union and its intergovernmental council to ensure that identified projects by members of the African diaspora in the Australasian region align with African development agenda.


Objectives
  • To encourage members of the African Diaspora to take an active and continued interest in the activities and progress of motherland Africa
  • To capitalise on the professional expertise of members of the African Diaspora in the development of Africa 
  • To establish diaspora scholarships and awards to assist African students in need and or on merit
  • To establish diaspora trust funds to help with innovative projects that will benefit Africa 
  • To establish a diaspora endowment  to help with capital projects in targeted areas of growth and innovation in Africa 
  • To avail members of the diaspora the opportunity to connect and network with each other especially in their fields of expertise and locations  
  •  To expand African ambassadorial presence through the professional networks of people of African descent. 
  • To encourage exchange programs or mentorship programs between African and diaspora trades, professions and other areas 
  •  To capitalise on corporate social responsibility and philanthropic services available to diaspora members to promote and develop regional  best practice mentorship and leadership programs for Africa.
  • The incentives alluded to above should make membership attractive/persuasive and yet voluntary.
 

Vision

To develop a sustainable relationship between members of the African Diaspora living in the Australasian region and motherland Africa, through collaborative engagements with the African Union, African Heads of Mission and African missions in the regions of our residence.

 

Values

  • We will carry out our work humbly and consistently in service to our countries of residence and motherland Africa and strive to achieve our goals in ways that are consistent with good governance, including: transparency, observance of international ethical values, and legal frameworks of the countries of our residence, with a view to inspire and empower others to emulate integrity and trust, inclusion, cooperation, partnership, success, value diversity, and equal opportunity for all and stimulate creativity and innovativeness.
  • We aim to inspire and empower others through integrity and trust, inclusion, cooperation, partnerships, value diversity, and equal opportunity for all and stimulate creativity and innovativeness.
  • We shall apply  a human rights framework as stipulated by the UN in all our dealings and activities.
  • We shall institute a democratic style of leadership in selecting our leaders and we shall ensure that gender balance is an integral part of that leadership