EDITOR’S NOTE: The international development community has traditionally looked at diasporas through the lens of remittances and financial flows. Although important, these are only part of the story, Diaspora Matters’ Kingsley Aikins writes in this guest commentary.
Development professionals may be missing a trick. Migration is — quite rightly — a huge contemporary topic attracting much attention. It is also highly emotive, politically toxic and emotionally draining.
At the same time, the fact that the area of diaspora gets a much easier ride and more positive press is seen as generally a good thing and is attracting a lot of attention from dozens of governments.