Migration and development

Conference objectives

As in the case of the GTZ conference held in October 2003, the overall objective of this meeting is to gain insights into the relation between migration and development. This meeting will focus on diaspora communities and their contribution to development in migrant sending countries as well as the role of development cooperation, and cooperation between governments in general, in enhancing this contribution. In particular the issues of "remittances" and "business and non-profit activities" will be examined.

The meeting seeks to create a dialogue among representatives from diaspora communities, countries of origin, relevant institutions, interested national and international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and academia. With a view to having the discussions based on practical experience, it is planned to work from concrete examples, such as from Afghanistan, Egypt, and Serbia.

Structure
In order to help identify the factors that will lead to a successful cooperation countries, the intention is to start with a review of past diaspora policies adopted by the United States, Mexico and Thailand. These countries have substantial experience in cooperating with diaspora communities as well as in bilateral cooperation in relation to such communities.

Subsequently, representatives from the diaspora communities and countries of origin present at the conference will report on their experience in the areas of remittances, business and non-profit activities.

Small working groups will be set up where participants will attempt to devise practical policy proposals, based on the earlier presentations.

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