ZANZIBAR DIASPORAS AND DEVELOPMENT!

Who are Diaspora?
Individuals who are migrants or descendants of migrants, and whose identity and sense of belonging, either real or symbolic, have been shaped by their migration experience and background, are often referred to collectively as diaspora.

How do diaspora communities contribute to development?

There is a growing recognition that transnational communities facilitate increased trade, investment and cultural linkages between the different countries that they are connected to, and that they are important development actors. They have been playing this important role long before the international community took notice. The resources of these communities that flow across borders are immensely varied and range from skills, knowledge and ideas to cultural capital, finance and trade links.

Human and social capital may be described as the human resources that diaspora members constitute through their skills and knowledge, and the extended networks that they maintain. Skills accumulated by diaspora members are invaluable in terms of the development of a variety of sectors such as health, education and technology.

Cultural capital is the rich and diverse background that transnational communities bring to the societies in which they reside, and the acquisition of new values and ideas that make up their ever-changing identity. Cultural capital not only contributes to creating diverse societies that are more dynamic and innovative but also enhances relations between countries. The ideas and different social constructs that diaspora members possess can break down barriers among different groups and contribute to greater gender equity, peace building efforts and enhanced participation in political processes in both countries where these communities reside and originate from.

Enabling:-

The creation of appropriate conditions is essential to enable transnational communities to become effective agents for development. The degree to which diaspora can contribute is directly related to the ability of members of these communities to develop their full potential and acquire the necessary skills and resources to serve as architects of economic and social progress. Steps to enhance the well-being of members of the diaspora include reducing the vulnerability of migrant communities by guaranteeing their access to essential services such as healthcare, and ensuring respect for their social rights to maximize their potential as agents for development. Addressing migrant health is a prerequisite for enabling migrants to contribute to development and reduce poverty -- for themselves, their families and the wider communities in both origin and destination country.

Empowering

With the right conditions in place, transnational communities will spontaneously transfer resources and strengthen links between their countries of origin and destination regardless and often in spite of administrative, regulatory and other constraints. However, governments can empower this process by introducing special measures and programmes in a variety of fields.

Engaging

Knowing and understanding transnational communities is crucial to engaging effectively with them and developing the appropriate outreach strategies towards diaspora. regularly maps and surveys diaspora communities to assess their socio-economic profile and their willingness to contribute to the development of their countries of origin, and to improve the understanding of communication pathways within diaspora communities.

Cultural capital is the rich and diverse background that transnational communities bring to the societies in which they reside, and the acquisition of new values and ideas that make up their ever-changing identity.


Human and social capital may be described as the human resources that Zanzibar diaspora members constitute through their skills and knowledge