Governments should develop inclusive policies if they are to
successfully mobilize diasporas for the socio-economic development
of home and destination countries, according to the latest report
in IOM's Migration Research Series.

Although diaspora members are usually keen to get involved in
development projects, the report notes that major hurdles continue
to impede their engagement. Less bureaucracy, better identification
of investments projects, lowering transfer costs for remittances
and improved security for business transactions should be part of
comprehensive policy approaches. Other measures, such as allowing
dual citizenship can also encourage diaspora members to invest in
the economic growth and development of home and host countries.

The report notes that governments should provide an enabling
social, political and economic environment and encourage diasporas
to keep the ownership of their initiatives and contributions.

Promoting a dialogue between expatriate communities and
governments, responding positively to requests made by diasporas
should be part of trust building initiatives that can also
strengthen diaspora engagement.

It notes that despite strong interest and extensive talk on
migration and development, there is limited knowledge on how
governments engage with diasporas and little information on what
policies work best.

The report argues that current policies are excessively focused
on quantifiable financial transfers and overlook other aspects that
represent significant pools of wealth, in particular, diasporas'
contributions to trade exchanges, business creation, know-how
transfers, local development initiatives and all types of
investments.

In addition, a lack of partnership between home and host
countries is a key obstacle in preventing diasporas from playing a
more active role in development.

The report concludes that in order to maximize the development
potential of diasporas, governments and policy-makers should adopt
a multi-layered, step-by-step approach in devising policies that
are successful.

For more information, please call:

Dina Ionescu

IOM Geneva

Tel +41 22 717 93 24

E-mail: "mailto:Dionescu@iom.int">Dionescu@iom.int

The report is available in the "paragraph-link-no-underline" href=
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