The growing strategic role of diaspora communities in global development was the headline theme when representatives of 15 UK-based diaspora organisations met to explore their understandings of ‘development’ and ask how they can do more to boost development work in their countries of origin.

The workshops in April and May were organised by Connections for Development (CfD), a network of black and minority ethnic individuals and organisations working to ensure that diaspora civil society plays a full role in international development, and supported by VSO.

“The diaspora’s role is critical,” argues Alache Ode, VSO’s diaspora development worker, a lecturer on development at University of London’s Birkbeck College, and one of the facilitators of CfD’s workshops. “And it would be even greater if the diaspora themselves grasped its significance.”

Much current interest has centred on remittances – the money sent home by migrant workers. In some countries, this is a larger sum than that received in official development assistance. In Bangladesh, for example, workers’ remittances in 2005 were estimated at $2.2 billion, almost double the $1.4 billion in international aid in the same year. In Kenya, migrant workers remitted some $464 million in 2004 – not far below the level of international aid ($635 million) received in the same year.

Even comparatively small amounts of money sent home by individuals can have an impact on development. “Many of those children taking up primary school places – part of the drive to attain the Millenium Development Goal of universal primary education – are paid for by money sent home by relatives,” says Alache Ode.

Governments are waking up to the contribution made by their migrant workers. In some areas of Mexico, local government is match-funding remittances invested in community development, to maximise its effect. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) identified the diaspora as a fifth constituency for Africa, after north, south, east and west, and African embassies abroad now regularly invite in their diaspora for consultation. India has offered non-resident Indians tailored investment opportunities, perhaps influenced by the example of China. Foreign direct investment from Chinese living abroad has been a big factor in its economy’s rapid growth since the 1990s. Bangladesh, Ghana and Nigeria – countries that receive large volumes of remittance transfers from the UK – are developing remittance ‘partnerships’ with DFID, which include a range of measures to make it easier and cheaper to send money home.

It’s not just about money, however. There are also the ‘social remittances’ – the transfer of ideas, skills, attitudes and technologies through people. “Members of the diaspora share social and political capital, they are carriers of ideas between continents,” Ode says, “and they also often have the clout to carry out advocacy on behalf of their different countries.”

But, she argues,both economic and social remittances are “worth even more if invested more completely – not just individual transfer within families – but in whole communities.” She adds, “It is no good just thinking about family. Why hasn’t that approach already worked? If you are simply educating the next generation to leave, that is not development.”

Building the capacity of organisations thinking of community development beyond the family was the purpose of the two workshops organised by CfD, which is currently funded by DFID. “We want this programme to enable diaspora organisations to exploit their full potential in development and poverty alleviation,” explains Betty Okot, CfD’s policy and research officer. “We hope this initiative will encourage the diaspora to combine their resources in partnerships with counterparts in the development field across the world.”

Photo © Rhodri Jones/Panos

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