Effective and Sustainable Diaspora Engagement for Development in the Caribbean

The objective of the project is to contribute to the economic and social empowerment of low-income communities in Belize, Guyana, Jamaica and Suriname, through supporting the identification and transfer of skills, funds and other resources of Caribbean expatriates residing in Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA.

To achieve the project objective, IOM, in collaboration with key government offices within the respective countries, will complete the following activities identified as four separate project components: 1) Establishing proper coordination mechanism within each country to support effective implementation of project activities. 2) Identifying Caribbean diaspora organizations within the four targeted destination countries and raising awareness. A common website will be developed as a reference point on community and entrepreneurial development within the four countries of origin. 3) Helping selected Caribbean countries to channel the remittances received through the diaspora by increasing the competencies of government officials and their efforts to address issues of migration and development in beneficiary countries to maximize the potential development of remittances. Financial institutions within host countries will be encouraged to provide viable financial packages and other financial literacy initiatives to attract and channel remittances. 4) Support visits to home countries by 40 Caribbean entrepreneurs who are willing to set up or join existing small business enterprises. Candidates will be mentored in business start-up/management and oriented on the developmental needs, priority sectors and investment opportunities in their home countries.