Brief Bio (150 words)

Semhar Araia is the CEO of The Diaspora Academy, a global advisory firm and leadership institute supporting diaspora changemakers. A lawyer and strategist, she has advised the African Union, United Nations, governments, foundations and non-profits worldwide. She previously led Diaspora Policy at Meta and Diaspora Partnerships at UNICEF USA. Semhar began as a lawyer for the implementation of the Eritrea-Ethiopia peace process and a public policy advisor for Oxfam International, U.S. Congress, and The Elders. A recognized voice in diaspora affairs, Semhar is a 2012 White House Champion of Change, AU Diaspora Awardee, and one of the Smithsonian’s featured Next-Generation Voices. She’s also listed among The Root’s 100, MIPAD’s Top 100, and OkayAfrica’s Top 100 Women. Her work has been featured in the BBC, Financial Times, Al Jazeera and The Guardian. Born in New York City, she is based in Washington, D.C.

Short Bio (250 words)

Semhar Araia is the CEO of The Diaspora Academy, a diaspora advisory services firm and leadership institute which  supports diaspora changemakers around the world. Semhar is a technical advisor to IOM, African Union, USAID, and various governments, foundations and non-profits around the world. Semhar previously led Diaspora Policy at Meta and Diaspora Partnerships UNICEF USA. A lawyer by training, she began her career as an attorney for the implementation of the 2000 Eritrea-Ethiopia peace agreement and later as a public policy advisor for Oxfam International, the US House of Representatives and Nelson Mandela’s organization, The Elders. 

Semhar is a 2012 White House Champion of Change, an African Union Diaspora Awardee of the Year, and a former UN Delegate for Civil Society. She is listed in the Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent, The Root’s Top 100 and OkayAfrica's Top 100 Women. Semhar is profiled as one of the five individuals in the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture's Next-Generation Voices exhibit. She is a former Council on Foreign Relations Term Member, a former USAID's Advisory Committee on Foreign Voluntary Aid (ACFVA) member, and has been featured in The Africa Report, Financial Times, BBC, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Ventures Africa, AfroElle, and other media outlets. Semhar was born in New York City and resides in Washington, D.C.

Full Bio

As the CEO and founder of The Diaspora Academy, Semhar Araia is a recognized thought leader, strategic advisor and policy practitioner on diaspora engagement, African affairs, women's leadership and global development.  She has been named one of the Most Influential People of African Descent, and is the recipient of global awards and honors for her work. 

Semhar built and led the Diaspora Public Policy at Meta (formerly known as Facebook) for the Africa, Middle East and Turkey Public Policy team. She also led UNICEF USA's diaspora partnerships, building philanthropic partnerships with diaspora organizations. Her earlier roles include serving as a public policy advisor at Oxfam International, the US House of Representatives and Nelson Mandela’s organization, The Elders. A lawyer by training, Semhar began her career as an attorney for the implementation of the 2000 Eritrea-Ethiopia peace agreement.

Semhar testified as an expert witness to Congress' Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, and the United Nations ECOSOC.  She has delivered remarks before the International Organization for Migration, Concordia Summit, and the International Conference of Eritrean Studies, among others. 

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