IOM, the UN Migration Agency, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) hosted on 18 May 2018 the first Annual Diaspora Forum at the UN Office in Geneva, Switzerland. The forum is dedicated to “Diasporas as partners for development in the globalized world.” The Annual Diaspora Forum brought together parliamentarians, business, diaspora associations, government and…

Professor Gibril Faal, Director of GK Partners & Founding Director of ADEPT, Visiting Professor in Practice, London School of Economics reflects on diaspora’s role in development. Diasporas are supporting home countries in various areas, from basic provision of remittances to structured investment and to support to progressive forces.

How can countries of origin and destination enable and facilitate diaspora contributions to development? Professor Gibril Faal, Director of GK Partners & Founding Director of ADEPT, Visiting Professor in Practice, London School of Economics shares his views and recommendations on best practices of leveraging diaspora’s support to countries of origin.

Diasporas are recognized as important first responders to humanitarian crisis. Mabrur Ahmed, Founder of Restless Beings in the UK reflects on the crucial role of Rohingya community in responding to Rohingya crisis.

How can we better support and facilitate diaspora investments in countries of origin? What policies and tools should be introduced to enable a bigger impact of migrant and diaspora engagement? Onyekachi Wambu, Director, Engagement and Policy of the AFFORD, UK, provides some examples of tools and mechanisms that could better support diaspora engagement in development efforts.

How can diaspora investments be better facilitated to have a bigger impact in their home countries? Onyekachi Wambu, Director, Engagement and Policy of the AFFORD, UK, shares examples of good practices necessary to address migration causes and foster development in countries of origin.

Diaspora and migrants have the knowledge and skills that transpire boundaries, and they are willing to contribute their experience and give back to their countries of origin.

How can international community enable and facilitate diaspora contributions to home countries? Mabrur Ahmed, Founder of Restless Beings in the UK shares recommendations on how to empower diaspora to go forward and increase the impact of their contributions in supporting development in their countries of origin.