Realizing the Development Potential of Diasporas

In this book, international experts including academics, policymakers, private sector practitioners, and representatives of diaspora communities further our understanding of how the growing population of expatriates from the developing world can be effectively leveraged to promote development in their homelands.

The contributors cover issues relating to diaspora diversity and its impact on development, the potential of expatriates to further entrepreneurship and business development in their homelands, the effectiveness of remittances in furthering inclusive development, and policies to better engage diasporas as drivers of development. Their analyses are supported by examples and case studies focusing on the experiences of specific diaspora networks, home country institutions promoting diaspora engagement, migrant entrepreneurs, and financial institutions facilitating remittances.

The contributing experts and practitioners come from a range of public and private organizations and institutions including Microfinance International Corporation, Western Union, Citibank, the Indus Entrepreneurs, Highland Tea Company, Chile Global, World Bank, United Nations, Inter-American Dialogue, African Foundation for Development, and The George Washington University.

Realizing the Development Potential of Diasporas draws from papers originally presented during a Rockefeller Foundation meeting in 2008 and subsequently updated, as well as from discussions and research from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the United Nations Development Program and from meetings of the United Nations General Assembly.

Krishnan Sharma is an economist in the Financing for Development Office of UN DESA. Arun Kashyap is an adviser for private sector development in the Private Sector Division and Capacity Development Group of the United Nations Development Programme. Manuel Montes is chief of the Policy Analysis and Development Branch at the Financing for Development Office of UN DESA. Paul Ladd is an adviser to the United Nations Development Programme on issues related to inclusive globalization, including development finance, debt sustainability, trade, and migration.