ABSTRACT
The chapter reviews new literature, emerging viewpoints, important developments in host and origin countries, and recent international frameworks incorporating diaspora roles. The 2018 Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration considers diasporas as part of its whole-of-society-approach, specifying the objective for diaspora roles to ‘create conditions for migrants and diasporas to fully contribute to sustainable development in all countries’. The chapter follows up on this objective in different regions subject to information availability. It further explores diversity among diaspora populations and the implications for their engagement in home country development. It also re-examines the current status of diaspora-led development policies and strategies followed by origin countries and whether the large gap hypothesised between ‘promise and reality’ is still valid. The experiences of China and India are highlighted with a view to drawing lessons for other countries. The chapter makes some observations on the 2018 Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and its objective 19 to ‘create conditions for migrants and diasporas to fully contribute to sustainable development in all countries’. The implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on diaspora engagement are also briefly discussed.
