Prominent researchers and experts will gather for a workshop at The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) Campus in Waterloo, Ontario, where they will address the challenges and possibilities for engaging global and Canadian diasporas in development.
The workshop comes at an important time given that several countries in the Global South are increasingly turning to their own extra-national diasporic populations in order to boost economic development, build global trading and investment networks and increase their political leverage overseas.
CIGI invites media to cover the opening day of “Diasporas, Development and Governance in the Global South,” which takes place on Monday, May 27, 2013. Speakers and panelists on the first day will include:
- Dilip Ratha, Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development, World Bank
- Alan Gamlen, Oxford University Diaspora Programme
- Paul Tabar, Lebanese American University
- Jennifer Brinkerhoff, George Washington University Diaspora Program
- Awil Mohamoud, African Diaspora Policy Centre
- Peter Schatzer, International Organisation for Migration
- Irena Omelaniuk, Senior Policy Advisor to the Global Forum on Migration and Development
- Susanne Melde, ACP Migration Observatory
- Sonia Plaza, Development Prospects Group, World Bank
- Irudaya Rajan, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Centre for Development Studies
- Imelda Nicholas, Commission on Filipinos Overseas
- Indianna Minto-Coy, University of West Indies
- John Oucho, African Migration and Development Policy Centre
This workshop emerges from a project called the Diaspora, Development and Governance in the Global South, supported by a 2011-2012 CIGI Collaborative Research Award held by global development and migration experts Jonathan Cush, Margaret Walton-Roberts and Manmohan Agarwal. The project enhances international understandings of the role of diasporas in development, identifies best practices for policy engagement of diasporas and facilitates Canadian diaspora engagement in development. The workshop is also supported by the International Migration Research Centre, the International Development Research Centre, Wilfrid Laurier University and the Balsillie School of International Affairs.
Media wishing to cover the first day of “Diasporas, Development and Governance in the Global South” are asked to register in advance with CIGI Communications Specialist Kevin Dias, at 519-885-2444, ext. 7238 or [email protected].
Event: Global Development Workshop: Diasporas, Development and Governance in the Global South
Date: Monday, May 27 (open to media) and Tuesday, May 28 (closed to media), 2013
Location: CIGI Campus, 67 Erb St. W., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kevin Dias, Communications Specialist, CIGI
Tel: 519.885.2444, ext. 7238, Email: [email protected]
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is an independent, non-partisan think tank on international governance. Led by experienced practitioners and distinguished academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements. Conducting an active agenda of research, events and publications, CIGI’s interdisciplinary work includes collaboration with policy, business and academic communities around the world. CIGI was founded in 2001 by Jim Balsillie, then co-CEO of Research In Motion (BlackBerry), and collaborates with and gratefully acknowledges support from a number of strategic partners, in particular the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. For more information, please visit www.cigionline.org.
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