Diasporas and transnational communities are agents of change, fostering connections across domains and countries. This brief presents relevant data and trends on diaspora engagement, including estimations, contributions, current trends, and future opportunities.
This IOM report focuses on the legal framework of diaspora engagement, evaluating the rights and opportunities available to diasporas in selected countries of origin and destination. It examines the understanding of the “diaspora” by governments, its reflection in national policies and legislation, the rights granted to diasporas, and the policies’ consideration of women’s role and participation in diaspora engagement.
Launched in 2018, the French initiative Choose Africa fulfils France’s commitment to African entrepreneurship, supporting local start-ups and MSMEs.
Ethiopia is highly dependent on agriculture for its economy, as well as for the day-to-day subsistence of its citizens. Wollo University in Dessie has been one of the most ambitious in the country in testing learning solutions around agriculture and implementing projects aimed to prepare its graduates for the job market in key sectors, including agriculture.
In 2018, the IOM launched the project "Integrating Migration into National Development Plans: Towards Policy Coherence and the Achievement of SDGs at National and Global Levels", funded by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund of the Peace and Development Fund, of which the People’s Republic of China is a major contributor.
The Future Forum is an opportunity to look ahead, sharing practices and ideas for how to maximise the potential of diaspora engagement for development in the years ahead.
It was indeed designed in response to calls from diaspora organisations in Europe to have more opportunities to communicate with each other, as well as with the European institutions, countries of heritage and international organisations.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union Commission (AUC have signed an agreement for $3.9 million in grant financing to strengthen investment, human capital and philanthropic engagement from the diaspora in eight African countries.
The TADY project started in June 2023 funded by the French Development Agency (AFD).
It aims to structure public policies for the Malagasy diaspora, by strengthening the institutional framework and developing local cultural and economic capital. In particular, it creates conditions conducive to diaspora mobilisation for the socioeconomic development of Madagascar. This project is based on three main objectives:
On 12 April 2019, the LOHARANO programme for youth volunteers from the Malagasy Diaspora was launched during a press conference organized in Antananarivo by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Communication and Culture, and IOM. This programme – the first of its kind – seeks to create and develop a space for exchange and interaction between the Malagasy Diaspora and institutional stakeholders in Madagascar, as well as to entice a constructive engagement between the Diaspora and the general Malagasy population.
Tacka povratka (Returning Point) is an online diaspora platform established by the Serbian Entrepreneurs and Science Technology Park Belgrade, with support of the Serbia Creates platform.