Brief Bio

Semhar Araia is the CEO of The Diaspora Academy, a global advisory firm and diaspora leadership institute helping to advance diaspora contributions to development. To date, TDA has trained and advised over 350 diaspora changemakers representing 80 countries, all seeking to make transformational impact around the world.  A lawyer and strategist, Ms. Araia has advised the African Union, United Nations, governments, foundations, non-profits and communities worldwide.  She previously built and led Diaspora Policy at Meta and Diaspora Partnerships at UNICEF USA. Semhar began her career as a lawyer for the implementation of the Eritrea-Ethiopia peace process and later served as a congressional staffer in U.S. Congress, and a public policy advisor for Oxfam International and The Elders . A recognized voice in diaspora affairs, Semhar is  listed among The Root’s 100, MIPAD’s Top 100, and OkayAfrica’s Top 100 Women, a 2012 White House Champion of Change, and one of the Smithsonian’s featured Next-Generation Voices. Her work has been featured in the BBC, Financial Times, Al Jazeera and The Guardian. Semhar was born in New York City to Eritrean immigrant parents and is based in Washington, D.C. with her family.  

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.  

Previously, Semhar established 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, a congressional staffer at the US House of Representatives and an Africa program officer at 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.

She has 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, Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit, Concordia Summit, and the International Conference of Eritrean Studies, among others. 

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