By Stephanie M. Duncan
Liberia is set to host its 2026 Diaspora Annual Conference in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area from September 25 to 27, with the government seeking to move engagement with Liberians abroad beyond dialogue and toward concrete investment and development initiatives.
The three-day conference, organized through the Office of Diaspora Affairs in the Office of the President, will be held under the theme “From Dialogue to Delivery.”
The theme represents a shift from last year’s inaugural conference, which placed greater emphasis on dialogue and engagement with Liberians in the diaspora.
Speaking during the Executive Mansion’s regular press briefing, Diaspora Affairs official Erasmus T. Williams said this year’s conference would focus on creating practical opportunities for Liberians abroad to contribute directly to national development.
Williams said the government also intends to address concerns that have discouraged members of the diaspora from investing in Liberia, particularly concerns surrounding the protection of investments.
“People in the diaspora have expressed concerns in terms of protection of their investment on the ground,” Williams said, noting that the issue will form part of discussions during the conference.
The inaugural Diaspora Annual Conference, held in 2025, attracted more than 700 participants physically and over 1,300 others virtually from 43 countries, according to an official release.
For this year’s conference, organizers said more than 500 people have already expressed interest in attending.
The programme will feature dialogue sessions, investment-focused engagements and a presidential town hall with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Key discussions are expected to focus on diaspora investment, entrepreneurship, innovation and technology, with particular attention to opportunities in agriculture, healthcare and education.
Organizers are also expected to advance discussions around proposed initiatives designed to strengthen diaspora participation in Liberia’s economy, including a Diaspora Investment Fund, a Diaspora Engagement Commission and Diaspora Savings Bonds.
The conference is being coordinated by a national steering committee comprising representatives of Liberian government institutions, diaspora organizations and international partners, including the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Development Programme.
Williams said the government wants to create an environment where Liberians abroad can play a more significant role in the country’s economic transformation.
He emphasized that the government’s vision is to move diaspora engagement beyond the traditional reliance on remittances and toward long-term investment, entrepreneurship and national development.
The conference will be followed in December by Liberia’s annual Diaspora Return Programme, another government initiative aimed at strengthening connections between Liberians living abroad and communities at home.
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