Book Chapter
Diaspora for Development in Africa
Lars Trans and Ida Vammen contribute to new book on development and diaspora engagement
African countries have over 30 million international migrants, which provide the countries of origin with a unique resource. It is for instance estimated that migrant remittances to Africa exceeded US$40 billion in 2010. These remittances provide a security net for many poor families on the continent, but the potential contribution of migrants surpasses personal transactions to family members and relatives.
The new World Bank publication Diaspora for Development in Africa, edited by Sonia Plaza and Dilip Ratha, goes beyond a narrow focus on remittances and brings to the foreground the contributions made by migrants in the form of collective remittances that assist philanthropic projects, knowledge exchange, promotion of trade and investment. The publication consolidates research and evidence on how diasporas from developing countries can harness development in their countries of origin. The different contributors draw attention to relevant experiences from both developed and developing countries to bear on issues confronting today's governments in linking with 'their' diasporas.
Lars Ove Trans (University of Copenhagen) and DIIS researcher Ida Marie Vammen contribute with a chapter on African diaspora associations in Denmark. It builds on a comprehensive survey of 123 associations representing 22 countries and three pan-regions in Africa. The chapter explores the development activities carried out by the migrant associations in their countries of origin, and points to some of the potentials as well as obstacles created by the Danish institutional framework which to a large extent shape their transnational development activities.
Lars Ove Trans & Ida Marie Vammen: African Diaspora Associations in Denmark: A Study of Their Development Activities and Potentials, in Diaspora for Development in Africa, 2011, The World Bank.
The volume is the outcome of the International Conference on Diaspora and Development, held at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC on July 13-14, 2009.
The entire book can be downloaded from the World Bank website (pdf 25.06 mb)
The new World Bank publication Diaspora for Development in Africa, edited by Sonia Plaza and Dilip Ratha, goes beyond a narrow focus on remittances and brings to the foreground the contributions made by migrants in the form of collective remittances that assist philanthropic projects, knowledge exchange, promotion of trade and investment. The publication consolidates research and evidence on how diasporas from developing countries can harness development in their countries of origin. The different contributors draw attention to relevant experiences from both developed and developing countries to bear on issues confronting today's governments in linking with 'their' diasporas.
Lars Ove Trans (University of Copenhagen) and DIIS researcher Ida Marie Vammen contribute with a chapter on African diaspora associations in Denmark. It builds on a comprehensive survey of 123 associations representing 22 countries and three pan-regions in Africa. The chapter explores the development activities carried out by the migrant associations in their countries of origin, and points to some of the potentials as well as obstacles created by the Danish institutional framework which to a large extent shape their transnational development activities.
Lars Ove Trans & Ida Marie Vammen: African Diaspora Associations in Denmark: A Study of Their Development Activities and Potentials, in Diaspora for Development in Africa, 2011, The World Bank.
The volume is the outcome of the International Conference on Diaspora and Development, held at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC on July 13-14, 2009.
The entire book can be downloaded from the World Bank website (pdf 25.06 mb)
Topics
Regions
Denmark
DIIS Experts
Photo/illustration by Lynggaardhansenfoto.dk
African diaspora associations in Denmark
a study of their development activities and potentials
Diaspora for development in Africa : World Bank, 2011, pp. 145-164