What is ADSII?
ADSII is a programme of the Coalition for the Repatriation of Descendants of Enslaved Africans (C.R.D.E.A). It proposes a limited, tightly governed pilot residency pathway for African-descended diaspora entrepreneurs who are already investing productively in Africa at the small and medium enterprise scale.
The objective is not to replace or dilute existing immigration or investor categories. It is to test, on a controlled and revocable basis, whether modest, well-regulated diaspora SME investment can be mobilised in a manner consistent with each host country's sovereignty, immigration controls, and economic governance standards.
ADSII does not seek preferential treatment. It seeks administrative alignment between a country's development priorities and the practical realities of diaspora SME investment.
"This proposal does not request preferential treatment, exemptions, or permanent policy change. It recommends a measured, evidence-based pilot that allows each government to assess a specific class of diaspora SME investors under strict control." ADSII Executive Policy Memorandum, February 2026
The gap this programme addresses
Current investor residency thresholds in most African states are calibrated for large-scale capital deployment, typically USD $100,000 or above, and urban commercial activity. This framework unintentionally excludes a distinct and growing category of diaspora investor who:
- Invests incrementally at the SME level ($30,000 to $50,000 USD range)
- Operates in agriculture, livestock, and rural value chains, sectors underserved by large foreign capital
- Deploys capital into productive assets rather than large upfront cash transfers
- Partners with local citizens and women-led enterprises through documented joint ventures
- Demonstrates financial self-sufficiency without seeking access to public services or social benefits
These investors are not seeking welfare. They seek regulatory stability and residency certainty to support long-term investment decisions, local partnerships, and sustained profit reinvestment within the host country. A narrowly scoped pilot allows any government to evaluate this category empirically, without policy over-commitment.
The ADSII pilot framework
ADSII proposes a pilot that any interested government can adopt, adapt, and evaluate independently. All parameters are negotiable with the host government. The following represent recommended defaults based on ADSII's active country engagements.
Pilot Scope
Duration of 12 to 18 months, capped at 30 to 100 qualifying investors, focused on designated agricultural or rural development zones as determined by the host government.
Investment Thresholds
A qualifying range of USD $30,000 to $50,000 (or local currency equivalent), reflecting SME-scale startup realities rather than large-capital investor categories.
Asset-Based Recognition
Qualifying investment may include agricultural land positions, livestock holdings, poultry or agro-processing units, and agricultural equipment, subject to independent verification and national law.
Mandatory Local Partnership
All applicants must partner with local citizens or citizen-owned entities, in arrangements that are documented, transparent, and compliant with national commercial law. Priority is given to women-led enterprises.
Selection Criteria
A registered local business entity, verifiable assets or investment commitments, a clear business plan with measurable outcomes, a local legal representative or counsel, and clean KYC and AML status.
Full Revocability
Residency status is conditional and fully revocable at any time. The pilot is not a commitment to permanent policy change. Clear exit mechanisms protect national interests at every stage.
Performance metrics: residency is tied to results
Residency status is conditional on verifiable, quarterly-reviewed indicators. Investors who fail to meet performance thresholds are subject to residency review and potential revocation.
| Metric | What is measured | Review frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Creation | Full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs created and sustained | Quarterly |
| Local Reinvestment | Percentage of profits reinvested within the host country | Semi-annual |
| Partnership Compliance | Active status of documented local joint-venture arrangements | Quarterly |
| Tax Compliance | Current status with national tax authority | Annual (verified by authority) |
| Environmental Compliance | Land-use and environmental regulation adherence | Annual |
Governance is built into the design
ADSII is designed from the ground up around government control, not investor convenience. Every element of the pilot preserves the host country's full regulatory authority.
Due Diligence
All applicants are subject to comprehensive KYC and AML screening. Asset valuations are independently verified. Land tenure and sector compliance are confirmed before residency is granted. No self-reporting is accepted for qualifying asset values.
Oversight Committee
A joint technical committee comprising representatives from the relevant ministries, the national investment promotion agency, and an independent auditor. The committee reviews applications, monitors compliance, and receives quarterly programme reports.
Revocation Authority
Residency status remains fully revocable at any time for non-performance, non-compliance, or legal breach. The pilot is not a commitment to permanent policy change. Defined exit conditions protect national interests at every stage.
Data Protection
All applicant information is handled in accordance with the host country's data protection legislation and international best practice. Data is used only for programme administration and is never shared without written consent.
Where ADSII is currently active
ADSII has submitted formal Executive Policy Memoranda to the following governments. Each memorandum is tailored to the specific immigration framework, development priorities, and institutional structure of the host country.
Kenya
Submitted · Under ReviewADSII has submitted a formal Executive Policy Memorandum to the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Republic of Kenya. The memorandum proposes a pilot focused in Kisii, Nakuru, and Kilifi counties, with a cap of 50 to 100 investors over an 18-month evaluation period.
Cc: Principal Secretary, Ministry of Interior and National Administration · CEO, Kenya Investment Authority
Botswana
Submitted · Under ReviewADSII has submitted a formal Executive Policy Memorandum to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Republic of Botswana. The proposal recommends a pilot of 30 to 50 qualifying investors in designated agricultural or rural development zones.
Cc: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs · CEO, Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC)
Pipeline Countries
ADSII is currently preparing country-specific policy briefs for additional target states across East, West, and Southern Africa. Governments interested in receiving a briefing are encouraged to make contact using the form below.
This is not without precedent
ADSII is consistent with established global practice in diaspora engagement and ancestry-based residency frameworks. ADSII does not propose innovation without example. It proposes policy parity with frameworks already accepted in international law and practice.
| Framework | Country / Body | Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Law of Return | Israel | Ancestry-based citizenship pathway for diaspora Jews globally |
| Portuguese Nationality Law | Portugal | Ancestry-based citizenship for Sephardic Jewish descendants |
| Ghana Right to Abode | Ghana | Structured diaspora residency and citizenship: Year of Return programme |
| Citizenship by Descent | Multiple Commonwealth States | Ancestry-linked permanent residency and naturalisation pathways |
| CARICOM Reparatory Justice Framework | Caribbean Community | Structured diaspora reintegration and capital repatriation programme |
What governments gain
Every ADSII outcome is measurable, contingent on performance, and subject to government verification. The following benefits are achievable under a well-governed pilot.
Capital Mobilisation
Individual investments aggregate significantly across a cohort. Once residency stability enables multi-year planning, diaspora networks scale cumulatively across family and community networks.
Rural Development
ADSII investors operate in sectors typically underserved by large foreign direct investment: livestock, crop production, agro-processing, and rural value chain development.
Employment Creation
Residency is conditional on verified job creation, ensuring every approved investor contributes measurably to local employment and cannot remain without delivering results.
Women-Led Enterprise
Mandatory local partnership requirements prioritise women-led farms and enterprises, directly advancing gender-inclusive development objectives embedded in national plans.
Regulatory Intelligence
A controlled pilot generates empirical data on diaspora SME investment behaviour, data that informs future policy without requiring any permanent commitment.
Pan-African Positioning
Governments that adopt an ADSII pilot signal leadership in diaspora engagement and Pan-African economic integration, a reputational asset in bilateral diplomacy and regional negotiations.
All potential benefits are contingent on rigorous governance and measurable performance outcomes. ADSII does not promise outcomes it cannot verify.
Request a policy briefing
ADSII is available to present a concise implementation brief and one-page pilot summary to any government ministry, investment promotion agency, or parliamentary policy committee.
C.R.D.E.A provides policy information and programme frameworks. This page does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Each government must undertake its own legislative and regulatory process. ADSII programme parameters are subject to negotiation with each host government.