MIDA seeks to respond to the ‘brain drain’ phenomenon in African countries through the creation and strengthening of sustainable links between diasporas and countries of origin. The objective is to encourage the transfer of competencies and resources of the African Diaspora benefiting countries of origin and strengthening the capacities of local public and private institutions.

Since 2001, the IOM Country Office for Belgium and Luxembourg, has been implementing the MIDA Programme in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda in close cooperation with partner ministries (Ministries of Labour in Burundi and the DRC, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Rwanda).

The current fourth phase of the Programme started in 2008 and will run until April 2013. Phase IV is a new approach based on the experience gained since 2001: capacity building activities for local institutions take place within the framework of multi-annual projects. A call for proposal was launched in 2009 and selected 24 projects. These projects and implementing institutions are being supported for a period of three years (March 2010- March 2013). The professionals of the diaspora participating in the Phase IV are selected in the framework of these multi-annual projects and will support local structures during the implementation.