The joint ICMPD-IOM project “Linking Emigrant Communities for More Development”, of which the main deliverable is an “Inventory of Institutional Capacities and Practices”, should be seen as a part or parcel of multiple initiatives aiming to support governments with significant emigrant communities to further develop a favourable environment and support knowledge-based policy development. By providing information supporting constructive dialogue on possible options on institutional mechanisms, support policies and legislation, outreach channels and initiatives relating to emigrant communities, the Inventory further aims to:

1.   Show how some governments have chosen to institutionalise their relation with their emigrant community, and
2.   Serve as a basis for dialogue on good practices, lessons learned and future recommendations for further intra- and inter-state cooperation on emigrant community-related matters.

Although far from exhaustive, the Inventory offers an overview of comparable information on existing institutional practices and identified challenges related to emigrant communities faced by 13 countries of origin, namely Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Syria and Tunisia.