The proposed benefiting countries expressed interest in developing or enhancing their strategies for better engaging their diaspora in local development. For the African countries, these actions are also consistent with the goals of the Migration in Development for Africa (MIDA) initiative. While some of the noted countries did have systems in place, others did not, and all would have benefited from exposure to operating models and cross-fertilization of their ideas.
To meet this need, this project enabled a joint study tour of the noted countries to visit an agency where management vision and operational features, such as data systems, are well-established. The study tour allowed exposure to the host country model, facilitated discussion among the participants to share the best practices and key issues from their own countries's experience in this area, and forward planning.