Leveraging Migration for Africa Remittances, Skills, and Investments

by Ratha, Dilip; Mohapatra, Sanket; Ozden, Caglar; Plaza, Sonia; Shaw, William; Shimeles, Abede

• ISBN13: 9780821382578
• ISBN10: 0821382578
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-04-26
• Publisher: World Bank Publications

Summary

Migration, Remittances and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, a flagship report jointly published by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (with funding support from African Development Bank, Canadian International Development Agency, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Fund for Agricultural Development, UK DFID, France Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Cultural Identity, Swedish International Development Agency, and the World Bank) seeks to improve our understanding of migration and remittances in Sub-Saharan Africa, including their magnitude, causes, and impacts on poverty reduction. Drawing on extensive literature survey and intensive research based on primary data collected through household surveys, analysis of remittance markets, focus group meetings with diaspora groups, and consultations with embassies and government departments, this is the first comprehensive publication on harnessing migration, remittances, and other diaspora resources for the development of Sub-Saharan Africa. This book is organized in five chapters focusing respectively on the mapping of migration and remittances phenomena in Sub-Saharan Africa, remittances, skilled migration, diaspora resources other than remittances, and policy recommendations. The first chapter #xE2;#xAC;SMapping Migration and Remittances#xE2;#xAC; provides a picture of migration and remittances in Sub-Saharan Africa. Migration comes in all its complexity in Africa #xE2;#xAC;#x1C; it has large south-north, south-south, intra-regional, internal migration; also it has economic as well as non-economic migration. The second chapter on #xE2;#xAC;SRemittances#xE2;#xAC; analyzes remittance flows in Africa. Our research shows that remittances are large #xE2;#xAC;#x1C; much larger than currently measured #xE2;#xAC;#x1C; in Africa. They proved to be counter-cyclical during the recent crisis. Cost of remittances should be reduced and access to remittance services should be improved. Post offices and mobile phone companies can play a significant role. The third chapter on the #xE2;#xAC;SSkilled Migration#xE2;#xAC; provides a picture of the emigration of skilled professionals from African countries. Migration of skilled people can generate complex effects, but in the end, labor market solutions have to be found #xE2;#xAC;#x1C; supply of skill has to be augmented to meet global and local demand. The fourth chapter on #xE2;#xAC;SHarnessing Diaspora Resources#xE2;#xAC; presents the forms of involvement of the diaspora in the sending countries via direct investment, trade, networks of professionals or scientists, philanthropic associations. The chapter presents cases on how financing for development can be raised via diaspora bonds. Governments can tap better their diaspora if they strengthen their embassies abroad and encourage them to mobilize diaspora resources. The final chapter on #xE2;#xAC;SPolicy Issues and Recommendations#xE2;#xAC; synthesizes the policy recommendations emerging from the previous chapters and discusses coherence among aid, trade and migration policies. Capacity for managing migration is weak in Africa #xE2;#xAC;#x1C; it needs to be strengthened. Migration should not be viewed as a substitute for development at home. But migration is an integral #xE2;#xAC;#x1C; and beneficial - aspect of globalization.