Building the Capacity of the Mauritian Government to Strengthen Linkages with the Mauritian Diaspora

As the custodians of a country’s cultural heritage abroad, diaspora networks contribute to its global visibility and often represent valuable development partners, through targeted investments, acts of goodwill, and civic engagement. Mauritius is a country marked by emigration and has much to gain from strengthening ties with its diaspora. Indeed, emigration has been a recurring phenomenon since independence in 1968, with Mauritians seeking job opportunities abroad and establishing diaspora communities in the U.K., France, Australia, Canada and South Africa. However, IOM’s Migration in Mauritius: A Country Profile 2013 and the new ‘Migration and Development Policy’ for Mauritius have emphasized that there is a need for more data on the size of diaspora communities, their skills, aspirations, and (unmet) needs to fully realise the Mauritian diaspora’s potential.

As such, the project seeks to support the setting up of a Diaspora Cell, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade (MFA) and in collaboration with Missions abroad. As part of the implementation of the new Migration and Development National Policy, the IOM in partnership with the MFA will achieve this objective by building the capacity of the Diaspora Cell and dedicated staff to fully and effectively deliver on its mandate of facilitating the outreach and engagement of the diaspora as well as coordinating diaspora activities.