As our name Reconciliation and Development Corporation suggest Economic Development is a major part of our vision and mandate. When the process of reconciliation begun in the hearts and minds of Africans, there was also hope that reconciliation with their brothers in the West would least to some developmental and economic benefits as well. This expectation was justifiable given that African Americans constitute the most fortunate Black People on the planet, amounting to fifth or sixth on the list of economies if regarded as a nation.

The 100 million members Diaspora represent a great market potential to the 800 million Africans still on the continent. Every other people group in the world derives a financial and trade benefit from having a Diaspora in America. In fact Israel existence as a nation today is largely based on its Diaspora in America. In the past a discussion of African American’s involvement in the financial development of Africa could not be openly discussed. The modern economic and political reality in the world today forces even the most unlikely to explore the benefits of exploiting the cultural links between Africa and its Diaspora in America and elsewhere.

The reconciliation effort produces benefits for American foreign policy, business and security interest while at the same time enhancing the African ancestry economically on both sides of the Atlantic. The obvious set back to this process is the small percentage of Blacks in the Diaspora who hold decision making positions in the business arena or business ownership.

This means that RADCORP cannot openly advocate economic development in Africa without also advocating greater economic participation and involvement among African Americans and the rest of the Diaspora and maintain creditability. RADCORP must present greater economic participation in the local economy as a better and more viable option than reparations. The economic development challenge is:

• To educate the nation as to the vast national and economic benefit in cultivating the historic link between Africa and the Diaspora.
• In providing systems to motivate and enable the Diaspora to fully participate more in business enterprise and the national economy.
• Challenging the Diaspora to become enfranchised again in Africa through investment opportunities.
• In finding corporate partners who understand the need for this process to be realized as a mutually beneficial endeavor.

The unique RADCORP contribution is in the following:

• Addressing barriers and divisions that are at the heart of the instabilities resulting in Africa’s poverty.
• In providing a good neighbor bridge to corporate, governmental, non-governmental and business interest operating or wanting to operate in Africa.
• In providing a bridge between African Americans and others in the Diaspora and these other interest.
• The corporation hopes to be a link and one stop shop between corporate and humanitarian interest and Africa.
• To provide research, management and accountability services to organizations and institutions in Africa.
• To provide information and training to the African private and public sector in dealing with international business interest especially in the area of corruption and transparency.
• The corporation will assist governments in Africa in finding credible partners in the west and vice versa.

RADCORD intends to go beyond linking established business interest with opportunities in Africa, but intends to create an investment pool from among its members to promote economic participation, business enterprise and investment in Africa among the Diaspora. This accomplishes three major objectives:

• If fulfills the hope of joint economic development between Africa its Diaspora and the nations they now live in.
• It motivates the Diaspora to become economically involved in their future.
• It provides RADCORP the financial sustainability it needs long term.

The planning and implementation of these objectives are invested in the RADCORP’s Economic Development Commission.

Value
The real value to this program is in accomplishing a stable and conductive economic environment in Africa and among the Diaspora. The self esteem, self respect and self reliance that is so important for human dignity. On the ground developmental benefits to the People of African and the strategic alliance between the United States and Africa.

*Special Note: There is an overlap between our economic development program and our humanitarian efforts.

Funding
The projects designed and managed by the Economic Development Commission are funded independently based on their own merit and each should be referred to individually for an understanding of their cost.