2024 is the 10th anniversary of the Global Somali Diaspora, uniting the community worldwide. This anniversary reflects on GSD’s past achievements and future plans. The theme of this year’s conference, “The Role of the Somali Diaspora”, aims to celebrate the significant contributions of Somalis abroad to their host countries and homelands and to foster a renewed vision of collective action.

GSD was founded in Istanbul in June 2014 with support from the Turkish government, bringing together hundreds of people from the Somali diaspora to support their community and country. Türkiye and Somalia have longstanding ties in history, culture, education, and business. President Erdogan’s 2011 visit to Somalia and Türkiye’s support have strengthened these relationships for nation-building and humanitarian missions.

The GSD’s conference aims to celebrates a decade of the Global Somali Diaspora programmes and aims to unite and improve the Somali community, both at home and abroad. Activities include speeches, panels on topics like development, investment, entrepreneurship, education, health care, social innovation, the Somali-Turkish relationship, and exploring the role of the Somali diaspora in strengthening the relationship between Somalia and the African continent.

Target audience: Somali diaspora, government officials, policymakers, private sector leaders, development agencies, INGOs and CSOs, academics, researchers, practitioners, and cultural leaders with expertise in diaspora and Somalia.