Who we help
For African diaspora investors
If you are part of the African diaspora and want your money to earn a return and make a difference at home, ARK Group International is working to make that easier, safer and more transparent.
Why diaspora capital matters
Diaspora investment is money invested in African businesses by people of African heritage living abroad. It is driven by two things at once: a connection to home, and the pursuit of both impact and a financial return. That combination matters, because the businesses in Africa’s missing middle need patient, committed capital. In 2018 the International Finance Corporation put the unmet demand for finance among micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa at US$331 billion.
Diaspora investors also bring what money alone cannot: know-how and access to markets. Our aim is to establish diaspora investment as a scalable asset class.
What ARK’s research found about diaspora investment
ARK’s studies of diaspora investment in Ghana and Sierra Leone, published with the International Growth Centre, drew on consultations with 57 institutions across the two countries.
The appetite is there.
Governments, businesses and the diaspora itself all want more diaspora investment, in Ghana and in Sierra Leone.
Most of it is informal.
Money is often sent to relatives or friends to invest with no contract, or passed through informal middlemen. Many investors have lost money this way, and their stories put others off.
Trust makes the difference.
The good experiences came through formal, well-governed and regulated investment platforms.
Trusted routes are needed.
Both studies call for well-governed investment vehicles built for the diaspora, such as diaspora bonds, pooled funds or public–private partnerships.
Questions worth asking before any investment
Our research found that diaspora investors lose money where there is no proper checking, oversight or accountability. Whatever route you consider, these questions help:
- Is there a written agreement that sets out what you are investing in and what you receive?
- Is the business, fund or platform properly governed and, where it should be, regulated?
- Who checks how the money is used, and how will you hear about results?
- What happens if things go wrong, and who is accountable?
What ARK is doing now
At this stage, ARK is focused on understanding the diaspora investment landscape and building the evidence base for diaspora investment as its own asset class, one that can grow to scale. That work is for the whole sector, not only for ARK.
For diaspora investors themselves, the first step is Diaspora Investment Essentials, a free course on FundBridge, ARK’s platform. Taking part also adds to the evidence ARK is gathering about how diaspora investors think and invest.
This page explains our work. It is not an offer or an invitation to invest.
How to get involved now
- 1
Take the free course
Diaspora Investment Essentials, a free course on FundBridge.
- 2
Read the research
ARK’s studies of diaspora investment in Ghana and Sierra Leone.
- 3
Get in touch
Questions diaspora investors ask
How is diaspora investment different from sending remittances?
Remittances are money sent home, usually to support family. Many diaspora investors send investment money the same way, through relatives or friends and without a contract. ARK’s research found that remittance channels are poorly suited to investment because they are not designed or regulated for it. A formal, well-governed route protects both the investor and the business.
Can I invest through ARK today?
No. ARK is not offering investments at this stage. It is building the evidence base for diaspora investment as a scalable asset class. You can sign up to FundBridge and take Diaspora Investment Essentials, a free course for diaspora investors.
What is Diaspora Investment Essentials?
Diaspora Investment Essentials is a free introductory course for diaspora investors, available on FundBridge, ARK’s platform. Taking part also contributes to ARK’s research on diaspora investment.
Why do diaspora investments go wrong?
ARK’s research in Ghana and Sierra Leone found that many losses come from investing informally: sending money to relatives or friends with no contract, or relying on middlemen nobody has checked. Formal, well-governed routes reduce that risk.
Who counts as the diaspora?
The African diaspora means people of African heritage living outside Africa, and there is no single definition. ARK’s Sierra Leone research found two main groups: people with family or heritage ties, including dual citizens, returnees, migrants and their descendants, and the “DNA diaspora”, people who have traced their ancestry through DNA testing.
