Research and Policy Dialogue Initiative on Migration and Development in Nepal

Remittances add up to 29% of Nepal’s GDP (World Bank, 2014) but only roughly 2% is set aside for investments . Currently, there are no institutional tools, programs or assessment of desired opportunities and services to counter this trend and encourage migrants to save and invest. Nepal’s excessive reliance on migration to fill the absence of in-country employment opportunities poses a threat as any substantial decline in capital inflow from migrants may destabilize the economy at micro and macro levels. The project envisages assisting the Government of Nepal and related stakeholders in developing policies and project interventions to more effectively harness the link between migration and development.

In pursuit of the objective mentioned above, IOM will articulate a research on the nature, use and impact of migration related social, human and financial capital flows on Nepal’s socio-economic development. To this end, the project will carry out household and migrants’ surveys, structured interviews with key stakeholders/ local authorities and consultations with the GoN, private sector and civil society organizations. Building on the recommendations of the High-Level Consultation of 2014, and in particular resolution no. 2, on enhancing linkage between migration and development, the data and evidence emerged through the research and the consultative process will provide the GoN, civil and private sector entities, with a viable baseline against which to formulate future policies, projects and market interventions for migration mainstreaming.