Migration

On 11 December 2008, CTA in partnership with the European Commission-DG Development and EuropeAid, the EU Presidency, the ACP Secretariat, Euforic, IPS Europe and Concord (European platform of development NGOs) organized the eighth Brussels Development Briefing, part of a series of discussion meetings on ACP-EU development issues. This briefing focused on the issue: “How does international migration affect ACP rural development?”.

Programme and objectives of the Briefing

Isolina Boto, CTA [presentation]

Welcome remarks by organizers

Hansjörg Neun, CTA,
Klaus Rudischhauser, Director DG Development C, EC,
Cecile Riallant, EC-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative

Panel 1: Exploring the links between migration and rural development
Does migration promote development in ACP countries and what are the costs and benefits of migration? How cash remittances sent by Diaspora benefit home countries and what is their impact on rural development? Can migration be considered as a tool for development (notably for the achievement of the MDGs)? How can we ensure that migration of highly skilled workers (brain drain) benefits both destination and origin countries? How can skills and resources of returning or circulating immigrants be enhanced and used to support development efforts of their countries of origin?

Overview of the key challenges and trends in migration and development
Tamara Keating, IOM [executive summary - presentation]
The impact of the financial crisis on remittance flows
Robert W. Meins, IDB [executive summary - presentation]
Migrant transfers as a development tool, examples from Africa
Peter Hansen, DIIS [executive summary - presentation]

Discussant: H.E. M. Girma Asmerom Tesfay, Ambassador of Eritrea in Brussels

Panel 2: Diasporas as agents of change and development partners?
Engaging diasporas in the development process can limit the costs of emigration and mitigate brain drain. Do the diaspora networks play a role in development policies? In which ways can they be strengthened to benefit development? What are possible multi-stakeholder partnerships and what role is there for public-private partnerships?

Working with Migrant Diasporas: including diaspora organizations in development strategies and development cooperation
Leila Rispens-Noel, Oxfam Novib [executive summary - presentation]
What is the diaspora contribution to rural development and business development?
Alache Ode, AFFORD, VSO [executive summary - presentation]
What role for the diasporas, how are they organised? What are the benefits for the country of origin?
Ken Ndiaye, Migrant and entrepreneur, Senegal/Belgium [executive summary - presentation]