While the relevance of financial remittances for developing countries is well documented and has gained attention during the last years as an important and stable source of external development, the flows of ideas, knowledge, behaviours and social capital transmitted by migrants to their families, friends and communities in their home countries, defined as “social remittances”, is still overlooked.

This study on migrants from the United Republic of Tanzania in countries of the global South, their relatives and their friends, explores the potential of social remittances. Through an online questionnaire and interviews, the study analyses how migration impacts emigrants’ behaviours, beliefs, ideas, opinions and knowledge, and to what extent these changes have an effect on several spheres of their families’ and friends’ lives back “home.” The findings of the research reveal that social remittances in the United Republic of Tanzania have a strong impact and influence on education, health, employment, business and governance.