Diasporas as Development Partners for Home Countries: A Case for Tanzania

Abstract

Diasporas have often been an integral part of community development in both host and home countries. Despite their efforts to send money back to their home countries there are very few governments existing today that have incorporated the Diaspora as development partners. This study reviews specifically the existing policies by the Diaspora home governments to incorporate them as development partners with the Tanzanian government being a case study. The study also gives suggestions on how Diaspora home governments could enhance policies to accommodate the non-financial contributions of the Diaspora towards their home governments. This study reviewed literature and analyzed findings from interviews conducted on Tanzanian Diaspora living in the capital of Finland, Helsinki. The study found out mainly that most governments are concerned with the Diaspora remittances which overlook the non-financial contributions from the Diaspora that can contribute to community development. With regard to such existential knowledge gaps, this study provides with knowledge on how to improve Diaspora engagement in home countries.