“ Engaging diasporas as development partners : Some good practices ” Dr. Gabriela Tejada

1. “ Engaging diasporas as development partners : Some good practices ” Dr. Gabriela Tejada Workshop in the framework of the IVth Moldovan Diaspora Congress Chisinau, 13 October, 2010

2. Presentation content • Diasporas in the migration and development context • Beyond remittances / Identification of diaspora contributions • Emerging models to leverage scientific diaspora resources • Diaspora Knowledge Networks • How can countries of origin promote diaspora linkages and networks

3. Diasporas in the migration and development context • Current discourse on M&D nexus focuses on: • Remittances • Return migration and circulation • Opportunities for cooperation with diasporas, engaging them through: • Investments (Chinese abroad) • Transfer of skills, knowledge and technology • Influencing positive policy changes (Rumanian S&T, Indian economic reform)

4. Beyond remittances: identifying diaspora contributions • Diaspora recognition: key development actors • Diversity of diaspora should be recognised (low skilled, high skilled, intellectual and scientific, business, second and third generations, etc.) • All types deliver contributions to home countries • The potential positive contributions of skilled diaspora should be promoted: • Skills, know-how, networks (focus of the ASM-EPFL joint project)

5. Emerging models to leverage skilled diasporas’ resources • Top-executives model (India) • Indian executives in big multinationals influence investments decisions to outsource knowledge-intensive operations to India (S&T and R&D outsourcing networks) • Knowledge outsourcing model (Armenia, India) • Successful diaspora members send back outsourcing contracts to firms in the home countries (outsourcing networks) • Mentoring / Venture capital model (South Africa, Korea, Taiwan, China, Israel) • Managers and owners of start-up companies abroad help develop and finance commercially viable projects at home (Venture capital networks)

6. Emerging models… (cont.) 4.Diaspora members as investors (China, India) 5. Identification of new opportunities / setting new strategic direction (Israel, Armenia, India) • Diaspora members identify niches: translate global opportunities into business projects. 6. Return of talent model (Korea, China) • Incentives (like special technology parks in China) for talent to return to the home country (brain circulation networks)

7. Diaspora Knowledge Networks (DKN) Somesuccess stories: • Taiwan (China) – Hsinchuindustrial park venturecapital & India-Bangalore : bothmodelled on theSillicon Valley • Chile Global -- Emerging example, invlovingabout 150 sucessfullprofessionalsofChileanorigin in the USA, Candaand Europe -- Tangiblecontributions> Co/fundingofhigh/techfirms in Chile (i.e.Interlink) • Global Scott -- Involvingabout 1000 high-placedScots all overtheworld --A partofScottish Enterprise – ScottishEconomic Development Agency -- High sucessfulnetworkofprofessionalsabroad

8. Diaspora Knowledge Networks (DKN) (cont.) Main challengesof DKN: • Diaspora initiatives are easy tostart but difficulttokeepmomentum, unlessconcreteresultsmaterialize • Need forsignificanttechnicalandfinancialresources • Need of a strong leadership • Lack ofcapablecounterpartinstitutionsandinfrastructure in thehomecountry(Colombia Caldas Network) • Ineffectivefollowupmechanisms • Institutionalchange, politicalinstability

9. How can countries of origin promote diaspora linkages and networks • Creating special ministries and units India, Senegal, Mali, Bangladesh... • Give special recognition to diaspora Africa, China, India, Colombia, Moldova... • Special incentives • Organise annual fora of diaspora Moldova, India... • Mobilise diaspora members as advisors Colombia, Rumania, South Africa... • Promote academic and policy making dialogue: bring intellectual rigor into policy making !

10. Contact and further information : Dr. Gabriela Tejada gabriela.tejada@epfl.ch http://cooperation.epfl.ch Thankyou for your attention MULTUMESC