The migrants are seen as 'agents of change'. They understand the language and are familiar with the culture and customs in their home country. Therefore they can more easily adapt to the local situation and are able to cooperate with the local counterpart in an effective way.
The Migration and Development Department of IOM The Hague currently implements three projects in the area of temporary return of migrants to their country of origin for capacity building:
-
MIDA Ghana Health III, which engages the Ghanaian diaspora in Europe in the development of the health sector of Ghana.
-
Temporary Return of Qualified Nationals (TRQN), which uses skills, experience and other resources of migrants for the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Georiga, Sierra Leone and Sudan.
-
Diaspora for Development of Cape Verde, which facilitates the temporary return of the Cape Verde diaspora in Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands to Cape Verde.
These projects are demand driven and based on identified needs in the countries of origin. IOM The Hague works closely with its field missions and local stakeholders in linking the needs with the available experience, expertise and networks of migrants residing in the Netherlands and in other European countries. IOM acts as a facilitator and bridge builder between diasporas and organizations in both countries of origin and the Netherlands. The migrants are being engaged as 'resource persons' and deliver training and advisory services.
