Workshop “How to incorporate remittances and diaspora involvement into development policies” in Saint Lucia
IOM in close cooperation with its partner, FIIAPP
Event details
Description
One of the main components of the EU-LAC project is to strengthen the link between remittances and development, composed of different training activities and internships (SWOT analysis, manual, workshops and pilot projects).
In this context, it was designed a Programme of three Workshops on “How to incorporate remittances and Diaspora involvement in development policies".
IOM and FIIAPP, in cooperation with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat, organized the 3rd and last workshop on 23 and 24 April 2014 in Saint Lucia.
Profile of the participants
The workshop was tailored to representatives of the Public Sector, Private Sector and the Diaspora (Civil Society) of the following countries: Barbados, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, and the OECS.
Objective of the workshop
The purpose of the workshop was to showcase and discuss strategies and mechanisms strengthening the capacity to use remittances in order to increase their impact on the development of communities of origin.
Methodology, result and continuation of the activity
The workshop was designed with a highly participatory approach to encourage exchange of experiences. The participants were actively involved in all the sessions that consisted of:
• Theoretical training sessions: including on one hand presentation setting out the different concepts, terms and definitions on remittances and development of the main contents of the manual elaborated for the project on this subject. On the other hand thematic presentations on gender and remittances as well as case studies were realized.
• Practical training sessions: also called team exercises at country level on topics discussed during theoretical sessions.
Through the workshop, was improved knowledge on different strategies and mechanisms that can be applied to encourage and facilitate the leveraging capacity of remittances.
As a continuation of the workshop programme, a series of pilot projects are being implemented in some participating countries, in which the ideas, methodologies and proposals developed during the workshops will be put into practice.