There is growing international dialogue on the importance of links between diaspora and development.
In both policy and academic sectors, there is emerging, if not uneven focus on the topic as governments and agencies attempt to identify and mainstream optimal modes of diaspora engagement for home and host country development. Some countries have created ministries, institutions and programs to promote diasporas as development agents. At the same time, there are diaspora-led initiatives to shape arenas of social, economic and political development. But despite all this, as we approach an important crossroads leading up to the post-2015 development agenda, there remain significant knowledge gaps about the forms and functions of diasporas in development practice.
An engaged diaspora can be a true asset, offering a channel of access to networks of human and financial capital that can be valuable resources in development practice. However, it can be difficult to assess and quantify the value and impact of diaspora engagement — as is often observed by practitioners and scholars in this area, “no one-size-fits-all” — and some governments are still unsure about how best to scale and implement policy in diaspora engagement.
About the author
Liam Kennedy
Liam Kennedy is director of the Clinton Institute for American Studies at Dublin's University College Dublin. Author and editor of several books, his research interests and teaching experiences ranges from U.S. urban studies, visual culture and globalization to transatlantic relations.
