Author:

Keywords:

Migration, Migratie

Abstract:

To facilitate the involvement of the diaspora of the Great Lakes region, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Belgium initiated the programme Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) in 2001. IOM commissioned a study to develop initiatives to facilitate the development impact of remittances for the Great Lakes region. This study aims to provide insight into the advantages and disadvantages of existing transfer methods, governmental and non-state initiatives regarding remittances, and the obstacles and opportunities for harnessing the development impact of these financial flows. This paper presents the results of the study. The introductory chapter presents a conceptual framework on remittances. The second, third and fourth chapters provide an analysis of the remittance dynamics of the DRC, Burundi and Rwanda. Each of the country-specific chapters contains a brief history of migration and an analysis of the utilization and volume of remittances. There is a list of the existing transfer methods, including their advantages and disadvantages for the senders and receivers, as well as an account of the impact of remittances. Chapters Two, Three and Four also identify the governmental and non-state interventions and initiatives that are harnessing the development potential of remittances, as well as the obstacles and opportunities to harnessing the development impact of remittances. The latter refers to: the institutional framework; the macro-economic impact; the formal transfer methods; individual remittances used for socio-economic development; and collective remittance used for community development. Each chapter concludes with recommendations for IOM.