Recommendations for the implementation of communication activities to engage the Kyrgyz diaspora, compatriots and migrants living abroad in the development of the Kyrgyz Republic the period of 2022-2030 (with a focus on the development of new technologies, the development of the Kyrgyz language, and local communities). 

KEY POINTS

• IOM defines diasporas as migrants or descendants of migrants whose identity and senses of belonging, either real or symbolic, have been shaped by their migration experience and background (see Figure 1). • At least 280,5 million people – around 3 per cent of the global population - live in a country other than their country of origin.

• More than 70 percent of countries participating in the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) globally have established diaspora or emigration institutions.

• One in three MGI countries globally engages its diaspora in agenda setting and implementation of development policy.

• Two thirds of countries globally accepted dual citizenship. • Migrants are estimated to generate 9.4 percent of the global GDP. • Migrants often retain connections to their families and friends back home, send them part of their income or savings through remittances, share knowledge and skills acquired in migration and engage in trade, entrepreneurship and investment. Migrant children often retain ties to their parents’ countries of origin, as well. Senses of belonging of migrant descendants, however, can become weaker over time. • Worldwide, there are more than 200.000 diaspora and migrant organizations. • The Global Compact for Migration and the Dublin Declaration recognize diasporas as development and humanitarian partners.

IOM the Netherlands has nearly twenty years of experience implementing various diaspora engagement programmes. These programmes promote development through diaspora engagement. Connecting Diaspora for Development is the most recent programme in which diaspora members acted as actors for development in their countries of origin. In addition to demonstrating the value of diaspora contributions, the programme also showcased the voice of individual diaspora experts. Each expert has a unique story and experience and underwent personal challenges and achievements. IOM emphasizes the importance of creating a platform for these inspiring stories.

Therefore, IOM the Netherlands has created a success story booklet in collaboration with twenty diaspora experts. The booklet includes a variety of experiences from different perspectives and countries. In addition to the individual stories, the booklet also highlights some of the institutional linkages that were created within the framework of CD4D.

IOM is proud of the achievements of the diaspora experts and wants to thank them for their continuous commitment to CD4D! 

The “Mapping of Ethiopian Diasporas Residing in the United States of America” project was conducted between February 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018. The Government of Ethiopia has now recognized more than ever the need for a structured mechanism on profiling and engaging members of the diaspora. It is estimated that more than two and a half million Ethiopian diaspora members are residing in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia and within Africa. As an initial step, the Government of Ethiopia has prioritized mapping the Ethiopian diaspora and accordingly requested IOM to provide technical support in formulating and conducting extensive mapping studies. As one component of the Government of Ethiopia’s diaspora engagement policy, IOM, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other stakeholders in and out of Ethiopia have requested a study of the Ethiopian Diaspora in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, District of Columbia (D.C.), where significant concentrations of Ethiopians reside. This study focused on a mapping of the Ethiopian diaspora members and diaspora organizations in these three geographic areas to capture the potential and willingness of the diaspora to contribute to the development of Ethiopia. Additionally, using an online survey this study captured the views of the larger population of Ethiopian diaspora members residing in the United States of America. It should be noted that this project was conducted prior to announcements from the Prime Minister on diaspora engagement

With support from the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has concluded the implementation of the fourth and final phase of the project titled “Optimizing the engagement of diaspora for alternative approaches to safer shelters and settlements in disaster preparedness, response and risk reduction” (hereafter, the Safer Shelters project). The overall objective of the Safer Shelters project was to increase affected communities’ access to safer shelters knowledge and solutions, with a disaster risk reduction (DRR) approach, by optimizing diasporas’ specific contributions. To do so, IOM Washington’s Diaspora Engagement Unit (DEU) partnered with select U.S.-based diaspora organizations, alongside academic institutions, private sector entities and other local actors.

While the role of diaspora in humanitarian assistance is gaining recognition, particularly in the shelters and settlements sector, this report analyses the ways in which diaspora contribute to the sector and the impact of dedicated diaspora engagement initiatives.

More specifically, the project aimed to:

• Increase knowledge and access to safer shelters by enabling channels of communication between diaspora organizations and other humanitarian actors (incl. streamlining awareness raising and capacity building initiatives).
• Establish multi-stakeholder partnership models that leverage diasporas’ social and financial contributions to better support shelter-related interventions.

This compendium highlights key examples where diaspora members have directly engaged in DRR interventions, under the Safer Shelters project. It includes activities implemented in partnership between IOM and U.S.-based diaspora organizations to support communities in the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Haiti.

MIGRATION FOR DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) is a capacity-building programme implemented by the IOM/ UN Migration agency to strengthen institutional capacities of African governments to manage and realize their development goals through the transfer of knowledge, relevant skills and financial resources of African diaspora members. The MIDA initiative started in Somalia in 2008 with the first diaspora experts deployed in 2009. The overall objective of the MIDA Somalia programme is to strengthen the capacity of state institutions in key sectors (Health Education, Natural Resources, Immigration etc), in order to contribute towards achieving the goals stipulated in the National Development Plan of Somalia aligned to the Global Compact on Migration and the 2030 Development Agenda.

This publication stems from the need to understand the changes occurred within the Afghan diaspora in Italy following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021. Based on a qualitative methodology (through literature review and collection of primary data), this report maps Afghan diaspora groups and organizations in Italy, identifying their intervention priorities and activities in Italy and in Afghanistan, in order to explore engagement opportunities in response to the Afghan crisis. 

The publication shows that the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan has produced a clear change in the demographics of the Afghan diaspora in Italy, as well as in its social composition, modes of intervention and relations with the Italian society. It also calls for a wider involvement of Afghan diaspora organizations and their potential contribution in response to the crisis.

Finally, this publication contributes to the academic and institutional debate on the inclusion of diaspora actors in the humanitarian ecosystem, through a better understanding of the organizational structure, modus operandi and composition of the Afghan diaspora in Italy and through the identification of potential areas of collaboration with traditional humanitarian and institutional actors.