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Mobilization of Resources of Migration (Remittances)
The international Organization on Migration (IOM) reported that remittance from emigrants to their families amount to a substantial percentage of imports: 33.5 % for Bangladesh, 11.7% for Cape Verde, 83% for Eritrea and 67% for Yemen. In addition, immigrants from the least developed countries send more money home than these countries receive in development aid. If home countries were to harness the financial and human resources of their diaspora they would offer home grown solutions to the developing dilemmas facing the poor nations.
The primary way of attracting diaspora to become an important development partner would be an agreed-upon consensus by the migrant’s country of origin and the host country on the adjustment of immigration policies to regulate the stay of migrants from poor countries. African governments can encourage this initiative through a profound willingness to meet up with the restructuring and reformation of their governance and legal structures. In this way they would be able to win commitment from developed countries to regulate their immigration policies.
Another alternative is for the IOM to press for the reduction of remittance fees in order for resources from the diaspora to fully benefit local population. Remittance tends to have a good down stream effect on the population than foreign aid. In Cameroon, close to 70% of remittances are used by the local population for infrastructure development. A good number of clinics, university students’ hostels, pipe borne water projects and farm to market roads were constructed with resources form the diaspora. The most impressive aspect is the consultative approach which is used in planning this development - most of these youths had assembled in their adopted countries to plan how their collective remittances could be invested in their countries of origin, usually in consultation with the elders and the local community.
Draw Backs
Physically a good number of professional migrants refuse to return to their original countries after their educational training or successful integration. The IOM program to reverse the brain drain is stifled by such unwillingness. A possible innovation to this program could be involvement of African professional skills in the charity sector to serve as volunteers. This will mean that they would be allowed to go back and forth without losing their rights.
Rethinking Trade Negotiations
Trade negotiations have significant effects on the volume of employment and development. Unfavorable trade negotiations disadvantage investment and development in poor countries by paying little for primary products that make up a high percentage of their exports. Local businesses and hence employment is seriously affected by international price regulations and local government fiscal policies. Investment is another window through which technical and financial assistance can be tapped from the diaspora to create employment for African youths at home. International trade negotiations have serious implications on the volume of that investment.
There is therefore a need for governments to agree on the setting up of favorable trade negotiations with poor countries not only as a way of fighting illegal migration but also enabling them meet up with the actual production of capital goods. By doing so they would be setting the stage for heightened economic activities that would create numerous social opportunities. As part of a cooperative strategy to reduce illegal migration and hence insecurity, preferential pricing could also be placed on Africa exports.
Successful Integration of Local Youth Potentials
All efforts to reduce illegal youth migration should be centered on the successful integration of present local youth development potentials into the social and economic systems of their respective societies. The kind of self-reliance development concept propagated by most governments in Africa today (do not ask what the government has done for you, ask yourself what you have done to help yourself and the government) is an illusion for any successful integration of youths into the society. This is owing to inconsiderable taxation on youth entrepreneurial initiatives like small holders schemes and other sole proprietor enterprises. Increased corruption, nepotism and embezzlement are added factors to the already existing burden on youths who wish to engage in small business ventures as a means of survival and social integration. Faced with these obstacles they take the alternative of illegal migration to more advanced countries.
Partnership and Cooperation
To conclude, it will be worthwhile for the diaspora to establish successful partnership and cooperation links with their communities back at home. By maintaining this strong relationship it will be possible for the diaspora to play a key role in the fight against poverty and underdevelopment in Africa. For such a cooperative development to constitute an important component of a national youth development strategy their home governments must cooperate; to make it work, host nations must participate. As a commitment to assist poor countries meet the MDGs target by 2015 host countries should allow not only professionals but also all willing migrants to go back and forth to their original countries without possibly of loosing their rights and legal status.
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Writer Profile
Stephen N. Asek
Stephen Asek is a Cameroonian with a multicultural perspective in development, justice and social responsibility.
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Comments
tamuka tendayi | Oct 31st, 2006
this is a masterpiece
hello mohmmed elnour ahmmed abbo | Jun 17th, 2007
I am mohmmed Abbo from Nyala Darfur need to continue my education out sudan
mohmmed_abbo@yahoo.com
hello mohmmed elnour ahmmed abbo | Jun 17th, 2007
I am mohmmed Abbo from Nyala Darfur need to continue my education out sudan
mohmmed_abbo@yahoo.com
hello mohmmed elnour ahmmed abbo | Jun 17th, 2007
I am mohmmed Abbo from Nyala Darfur need to continue my education out sudan
mohmmed_abbo@yahoo.com
hello mohmmed elnour ahmmed abbo | Jun 17th, 2007
University of Nyala
hello mohmmed elnour ahmmed abbo | Jun 17th, 2007
I am mohmmed Abbo from Nyala Darfur need to continue my education out sudan
mohmmed_abbo@yahoo.com
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