Diaspora’s Role in Nepal’s Development: Potential in the 2020’s
Description
The size of Nepali diaspora has been growing dramatically especially during the last decade. The authors estimate that the diaspora population permanently settled in the more developed parts of the world will reach one million by 2025. This estimate excludes the millions of temporary migrant workers from Nepal working in mainly in the Middle East, and East and Southeast Asia. With the enhanced level of education and experience and supported by increased economic prowess, the Nepali diaspora in the developed world is in a strong position to become a significant partner in Nepal’s socio-economic development. The diaspora has already become a well-recognized party in several public and private developmental and educational enterprises in Nepal. The authors argue that the diaspora’s potential for contribution to Nepal’s development has been vastly underutilized for mainly two reasons. First, the government lacks supporting policies, regulations, and programs to fruitfully engage the diaspora. Second, the diaspora groups have not been able to fully map their capacities and create proper institutional mechanisms to fully mobilize their resources to help Nepal. The authors will undertake a qualitative review of how some countries have been able to successfully harness the diaspora resources. They will also assess how the successful diaspora groups have created good institutions and marshalled their capacities for action. This review will help in crafting policies and programs both for the diaspora and Nepali government to create a more effective partnership between Nepal and the diaspora to advance Nepal’s developmental aspirations. The paper will provide some policy recommendations for both Nepali government and businesses, and the diaspora groups on how the partnership between the diaspora groups and the Nepali government, businesses and institutions can be improved to enhance the diaspora’s contribution in Nepal’s socio-economic development.
Diaspora’s Role in Nepal’s Development: Potential in the 2020’s
The size of Nepali diaspora has been growing dramatically especially during the last decade. The authors estimate that the diaspora population permanently settled in the more developed parts of the world will reach one million by 2025. This estimate excludes the millions of temporary migrant workers from Nepal working in mainly in the Middle East, and East and Southeast Asia. With the enhanced level of education and experience and supported by increased economic prowess, the Nepali diaspora in the developed world is in a strong position to become a significant partner in Nepal’s socio-economic development. The diaspora has already become a well-recognized party in several public and private developmental and educational enterprises in Nepal. The authors argue that the diaspora’s potential for contribution to Nepal’s development has been vastly underutilized for mainly two reasons. First, the government lacks supporting policies, regulations, and programs to fruitfully engage the diaspora. Second, the diaspora groups have not been able to fully map their capacities and create proper institutional mechanisms to fully mobilize their resources to help Nepal. The authors will undertake a qualitative review of how some countries have been able to successfully harness the diaspora resources. They will also assess how the successful diaspora groups have created good institutions and marshalled their capacities for action. This review will help in crafting policies and programs both for the diaspora and Nepali government to create a more effective partnership between Nepal and the diaspora to advance Nepal’s developmental aspirations. The paper will provide some policy recommendations for both Nepali government and businesses, and the diaspora groups on how the partnership between the diaspora groups and the Nepali government, businesses and institutions can be improved to enhance the diaspora’s contribution in Nepal’s socio-economic development.