Mainstreaming Migration into Development Policy Agendas

Abstract:
The Workshop on Migration and Development, held in Geneva on 2-3 February 2005, was organized in cooperation with the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The main objectives of the workshop were to examine why migration should be considered a development issue, to look at the synergies between migration and development agendas, and to examine how migration could be mainstreamed into development policy agendas, focusing on MDGs, partnerships and engaging diasporas. The meeting provided governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations with a forum for in-depth discussions to share experiences on approaches and practices that incorporated migration issues into national, regional and international development policy agendas in both developing and developed countries, and to identify areas where such activities could be taken further.

This publication covers a broad range of issues arising from the intersection of migration and development which were discussed during the workshop, including the MDGs, remittances, the role of diasporas, brain drain and brain circulation, labour migration and return and reintegration. In addition, the publication includes the analysis of the survey on "Engaging Diasporas as Agents for Development", which aims to inform governments willing to engage with diasporas for development about existing policies, obstacles and successes encountered.