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:
The program intends to foster linkages between migration issues and private sector development, with a specific focus on financial services. Until now, many activities to foster diaspora investment in CoO have focused on capacity building of relevant state institutions and non financial services for migrant entrepreneurs. A major component of this programme is dedicated support the development of financial services that take into account the needs and specificities of diaspora members (remittances transfer, access to loans, savings products).
Following requests from migrant associations in France to be considered as development actors, the French government has provided support for empowerment and capacity building of diaspora organizations.
This has led to the creation in 2002 of a national platform of more than 700 migrant association that undertake development activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, Maghreb, South east Asia, the Caribbean and the Indian ocean.
The FORIM is now widely recognized as an important actor in the migration and development field, including at EU and international level.
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).
Link Up! Financing diaspora entrepreneurship - Feasibility study
The feasibility study serves as a basis for the development of a comprehensive programme to support diaspora entrepreneurs through networking opportunities, capacity building and seed capital. The study analyses the existing challenges in Austria to support diaspora entrepreneurs, identifies the needs of diaspora entrepreneurs so that they are better able to contribute to their country of origin and assesses the gaps that could be addressed for the benefit of diaspora entrepreneurship.
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.
This is an annual event recognizing overseas Filipino workers' families who have defined the social risks that are associated with overseas migration. These families demonstrated evidence of success in keeping positive family values and family unity, despite physical separation, in providing quality education for the children and in the achievement of economic prosperity for themselves and for their community.
The Bagong Bayani Awards is a world wide search for the Philippines outstanding over the Filipino workers. This award seeks to recognize and pay tributes to our oversea Filipino workers for the significant efforts to fostering good will among people in the world, enhancing and promoting the image of the Filipino as a competent, responsible and dignified worker, and for greatly contributing to the growth and well-being of the company and to the socio-economic development of their communities.
Eritrean women, including those still in immigration processes and abroad are invited and welcomed to join Eritrean diaspora organizations, such as women associations. Diaspora women associations have contributed greatly to the establishment of institutions that aim to empower women in Eritrea. They have collected money and financed the construction of office buildings in several areas in Eritrea intended for women and their development through training, job offers, counseling, and assistance.
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.