Turkey 2014-2015

IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR) is one of the few entities dealing directly with migrant and remittance-specific issues since its start-up in 2006. The FFR is a US$38 million multi-donor fund which promotes economic opportunities for the rural poor through the support and development of innovative, cost-effective, and easily accessible international and/or domestic remittance services. The core purpose of the FFR is to maximize the impact of remittances on development.

The project was implemented within the framework of the Dialogue on Mediterranean Transit Migration (MTM) by ICMPD and IOM between July 2011 and September 2014. The overall objective of the project was to enhance the institutional capacities of national authorities charged with migration and development to better harness the contributions of their diaspora communities.

The role of the Ghanaian Diaspora in national development has, in recent years, won unprecedented recognition from the government at the highest levels. The Government values the ideas, skills and contributions of Ghanaians abroad, just as those living in Ghana, much more than any other natural resource and therefore, considers the entire Ghanaian populace as its basic first priority. Government has therefore, taken steps to leverage Diaspora knowledge, experience, skills and financial resources to complement those at home for accelerated national development.

The general objective is to support local development projects and productive investments (collective and individual) of the Malian diaspora in Mali with i) a dedicated support mechanism for entrepreneurs in France and country of origin ii) activities with public institutions and private sector institutions to improve the investment climate in countries of origin
Activities:

This program provides newcomers with training, mentoring and supports required to become self-employed by providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to participate in the local labour market as entrepreneurs.

 Futurpreneur Canada is a national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring young business owners (aged 18-39).

 Its Newcomer Program provides tailored support to newcomers, including specific eligibility criteria for loan financing for young entrepreneurs (between the ages of 19-34) who have been in Canada for less than five years and who have limited or no established credit history in Canada.

TawiPay (www.tawipay.com) is a pilot project that started in 2015. Its main goal is to increase transparency in the remittance channels. SECO is currently financing the establishment of the two channels Switzerland – Serbia and Switzerland – Bosnia. The project’s objective is to enable migrants/diaspora communities to reduce the cost of sending money to their home countries.

In Morocco, IOM is assisting Moroccan expatriates based in Belgium to establish businesses in their communities by: (a) providing financial support; (b) through a partnership with the Solvay Business School, providing technical support in business planning and; (c) helping to navigate the bureaucratic procedures for establishing a business in Morocco. Through this project, IOM also manages a website that provides information on opportunities as well as how to invest and start a business in Morocco (www.guide-entreprise.org/maroc).

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.

The ICMPD Asylum Programme for ICMPD Member States provides a forum for asylum experts and policy makers of ICMPD Member States to exchange views on current challenges in the area of asylum. The exchange of ICMPD Member States on asylum-related 'hot issues' are mainly being facilitated in the framework of round table discussions and/or expert hearings. Following a consultation process with and based on the priorities of ICMPD’s Member States the Programme so far addressed the following topics: