Developing a Road Map for Engaging Diasporas in Development

MPI and IOM jointly published a handbook that offers a strategic road map for governments to build a constructive relationship with diasporas and examines the success and failure of policies, programs, and initiatives undertaken to date.  An increasing number of governments recognize the value that diaspora populations can bring to development efforts in their countries of origin, and the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) has, since its first meeting in 2007, looked for ways to highlight the kinds of policies and programs that can magnify the resources, both human and financial, that emigrants and their descendants contribute to development.  To continue this effort, the governments of Netherlands and Switzerland commissioned IOM and MPI to develop the handbook within the framework of the Platform for Partnerships (PfP), a GFMD-sponsored tool to facilitate knowledge sharing.  This discussion highlighted the best practices and experiences of different countries in engaging and maximizing the contributions that diasporas can and do make to the development of their country of origin, and more broadly the experience of policymakers in both sending and receiving countries and the related challenges and opportunities they face. Additional information about the handbook can also be found here.