Migrant Communities
Migrant communities are the binding element of the migration and development nexus. In a broad sense, migrant communities include diasporas, men and women migrants, including also asylum seekers and refugees, and related organizations in countries of origin and destination. With the increase in volume of the phenomenon of international migration over the past few decades as a consequence of globalization, large communities of migrants have formed across countries and continents. These have materialized into umbrella organizations, development NGOs, community associations, welfare refugee groups, arts/cultural groups, etc.
All offer specific opportunities for the development of countries of origin: migrant communities have invaluable insight into the needs, concerns and means for success of their countries of origin and can provide policy makers with first-hand information about the country migration and development realities. Solid transnational networks of migrants´ communities are fundamental to maximize migration as a development tool and contribute to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. They can serve to leverage the knowledge and perceptions of migrants and diaspora members, their experiences and views, thus creating positive synergies to undertake development initiatives.
Even though migrant communities have long contributed to the wellbeing and socio-economic expansion of their home and host countries, it is only recently that their role as agents for development was recognized in international fora. There is now a need to convert this discourse into practice and to feedback those results into policy formulation. More…
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Connections for Development - A UK-based, Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) organisation which supports initiatives of BME groups in international development and strengthens networks and channels of communication involving BME groups
