Diasporas possess unique qualities that make them valuable partners in the Humanitarian Development Peace Nexus. They have the knowledge, networks and motivation to effectively respond to emergencies and contribute to long-term development solutions.

In 2023, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), iDiaspora, the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT), the Global Diaspora Confederation (GDC), and the Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP) partnered to organize three Global Diaspora Virtual Exchanges on communication, aiming to boost diaspora engagement for development. The core focus was on refining communication techniques, strategic frameworks, and cutting-edge tools within the intricate tapestry of project management.

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.

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.

Mapping the Rwandan Diaspora in the United States of America is the report on a mapping exercise that took place in the United States of America from November 2021 to March 2022. The study aimed to gain insights into the socioeconomic profile, professional skills and expertise of this population and assess their capacity, level of interest and motivation to participate and engage in development-related activities in Rwanda.

States are responsible for providing social protection to their citizens, and in a migratory context it is countries of destination which are principally responsible. Nevertheless, limitations in migrant coverage and access have given rise to a plethora of informal measures, including those provided by transnational communities and diasporas who support their families and communities through personal networks, granting access to healthcare, education, retirement, and social security.

MIGRATION FOR DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recognising the high potential of women in the diaspora as leaders and agents of change, the “Programme Migration & Diaspora” (PMD), funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), commissioned this exploratory mapping of women with a migration history in Germany and their engagement for sustainable development in their countries of origin.

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).

his report has been initiated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – Mission in Armenia to analyze some practical opportunities for enhancing Armenia’s development