Goal 10: Reduced inequalities - 10.c on remittances costs reduction

The ITHACA project is implemented by the European University Institute (EUI) in cooperation with ICMPD, Real Instituto Elcano (RIE), London Metropolitan University (LMU). The project aims to contribute to the rising research and policy interest on migrant transnationalism and its effects on countries of origin and destination as well as on migrants themselves (and their families). The project concentrates on transnational mobility for economic purposes, i.e.

With the financial inclusion program introduced in 2014, India has managed to open more than 118 millions account in less than a year. Regarding migration (both domestic and international migration), the program has connected payment banking networks with the mobile companies so that the remittances can travel faster.

www.sendmoneyasia.org has been created through the Australian Governments' led initiative 'Reducing the Cost of Remittances to Asia'. The project has been developed and managed by the project partner, Developing Markets Associates Ltd (DMA).

The website provides important information on the many choices migrants living in Australia have when sending money back to their families and friends in China, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam.

www.sendmoneypacific.org has been created through the joint Australian and New Zealand Governments' led initiative 'Reducing the Cost of Remittances to the Pacific'. The project has been developed and managed by the project partner, Developing Markets Associates Ltd (DMA)

The CSAM measures the labour market integration of recently arrived migrants in the Skill and Family Streams. Findings from this survey help us to inform the size and composition of Australia's Migration Programme.

Migrants taking part in the CSAM are surveyed on two occasions to capture changes in their labour market status. This provides reliable insights into the migrant integration process, and the extent of underemployment against the backdrop of a changing labour market.

IOM's MIDA program, launched in 2001 and operating in eleven African countries, supports the short or longer term (or virtual) return of expatriate skills to key sectors. In each country, a multi-sectoral MIDA Steering Committee is set up, with the aim of greater coherence within the governments. The networks of participants strengthen interactions between origin and destination countries, which may stimulate further returns and development projects involving diaspora and/or the productive use of remittances.

The Malian government implements Diaspora fora to connect and build confidence with its diaspora. The first Diaspora Forum in 2003 was the opportunity to discuss three topics:

• the organisation and the management of the diaspora (strenghten the partnership with the High Council of the Malian diaspora, ameliorate the services in the embassies and the social protection, etc),
• investments favouring development (facilitate remittances and access to property market,etc),
• involvement of the diaspora in Malian political, economical and cultural life.

Mobile phone-based remittance systems are employed by a number of providers, including Smart Communications, Inc. and Globe Telecoms. They allow remitters to transmit money by using their beneficiaries' mobile phones. 

In the Dominican Republic, Quisqueyana, Mercantil, and Visa International produced a product called Cashpin, the only card product in the Dominican remittance marketplace.  Cashpin is a rechargeable debit card, hand-delivered in the traditional way. Once the sender sets up the account, the card need only be activated by the receiver by phone. Value can be increased by both the sender and the receiver. The card is usable anywhere in the local or international Visa Electron network, as well as on the domestic ATH network.