THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Diaspora families are doing more than sending money home. Through WIDU Africa, they are helping create businesses, jobs and new futures across the continent. Nyima Jadama reports on its new initiatives
For millions of Africans living in Europe, supporting family members back home is part of everyday life. A money transfer can help pay school fees, cover medical expenses or support a household during difficult times. But what if those remittances could do even more?
That is the idea behind WIDU.africa, an initiative that combines diaspora support, business coaching and grant funding to help small entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses across Africa. The program has now expanded its reach to The Gambia, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, opening new opportunities for entrepreneurs and their families across Africa.
Turning Family Support into Business Growth
Unlike traditional aid programs, WIDU Africa places the African diaspora at the center of economic development. Family members and friends living in European Union countries, Switzerland or Norway can support entrepreneurs they know personally. WIDU then complements these contributions with grant funding and business coaching, helping transform private remittances into long-term investments. The model reflects a simple but powerful belief: people are often best placed to support the ambitions of those they already know and trust.
Picture Credit: WIDU.Africa Team
A New Chapter for The Gambia, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire
Now active in ten African countries, the inclusion of The Gambia, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire marks an important milestone for the program’s regional expansion. Entrepreneurs in these countries can now access WIDU’s financial support and mentoring services, joining a growing network of small businesses supported across Africa. For many aspiring business owners, access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers to growth. Small enterprises often struggle to secure loans, despite having viable business ideas and strong local demand. By combining community investment with grants and coaching, WIDU offers an alternative pathway for entrepreneurs who might otherwise be overlooked.
Real Impact Beyond the Numbers
According to the WIDU Africa team, the initiative has already supported more than 8,000 businesses, mobilized millions of euros in grants and investments, and contributed to the creation and maintenance of nearly 20,000 jobs. The program also reports that 46% of supported entrepreneurs are women, highlighting its role in advancing inclusive economic participation. “Behind every statistic is a personal story: a young entrepreneur opening a workshop, a family business hiring its first employee, or a woman gaining financial independence through her own enterprise. These are the kinds of outcomes WIDU hopes to foster as it expands into new countries”.
The Diaspora as a Development Partner
One of the most innovative aspects of the program is its recognition of the African diaspora not only as senders of remittances but as partners in economic development. Every year, billions of euros are sent by Africans living abroad to relatives and friends across the continent. WIDU seeks to channel part of that support into entrepreneurship, helping local businesses grow, create jobs and strengthen communities. For diaspora members, the program offers an opportunity to contribute to lasting change in their countries of origin. Rather than providing short-term assistance alone, they become part of a process that helps generate income, resilience and opportunity.
The initiative is founded by the African diaspora, supported by the German government through the Ministry of Development and International Cooperation BMZ, implemented by GIZ and co-funded by the European Union and the Gates Foundation. Currently, the grants support entrepreneurs in mobilizing diaspora members while some serve as diaspora focal persons based across various EU countries.
Investing in People, Building Futures
As The Gambia, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire join the WIDU network, the program’s expansion sends a broader message: development is often most effective when it is built on existing relationships, local knowledge and community trust. By connecting entrepreneurs with the support of relatives abroad, WIDU Africa is demonstrating how small investments can lead to meaningful change. In a world often focused on large-scale solutions, its approach reminds us that sometimes progress begins with a family member who believes in someone’s dream and a community willing to help it grow.
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