The Second Regional Winter School “Diaspora as a Potential for Local Development: From National Policies to Local Actions” was organized by the Faculty of Geography and the Western Balkans Migration Network (WB-MIGNET), with support from the global program “Migration & Diaspora” (PMD) of German Development Cooperation, implemented in Serbia by GIZ.
The goal of the school, which brought together representatives of local governments from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, was to strengthen the capacities of employees in local government units to understand the significance of the diaspora in development processes and its economic contribution through the transfer of knowledge, skills, and technology.
“The role of the diaspora in development is an extremely important issue for both the state and every individual local government whose citizens live and work abroad. Emigration, among other things, affects the demographic potential of local communities. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the reasons for migration to mitigate emigration, as well as to explore opportunities for more active engagement of the diaspora in their place of origin and the conditions for their voluntary return. The challenges in this domain are complex and vary greatly, making it essential for each local government unit to devise activities that best suit the local context. In addition to theoretical insights and global examples, the school provides an opportunity to learn about good practices from the region. Through interactive activities, participants can exchange experiences and acquire applicable knowledge,” explained Dr. Danica Šantić.
As part of the planned activities during the winter school, special emphasis was placed on the connection between migration and development and the increasing importance of migrants’ role in development processes in their home countries. Discussions also focused on models for transferring skills and knowledge and their potential for fostering sustainable development and engaging the diaspora in development cooperation programs.
“The main challenges in establishing cooperation with the diaspora include the lack of an adequate database, insufficient human resources dedicated to developing forms of cooperation, a lack of recognition of the needs of both the diaspora and local governments in the context of development. Additionally, insufficiently defined legal regulations hinder cooperation opportunities and limit local governments’ ability to offer incentives for those who wish to invest in their place of origin or return. Organizing schools focused on such issues is a crucial first step toward recognizing various opportunities for cooperation between local governments and members of our diaspora. Another key objective is to sensitize individuals within the system so that the acquired knowledge and experience can be applied in local governments,” stated Jelena Dragić, Head of the Department for Social Affairs in the Municipality of Zrenjanin.
Guest lecturers included prominent regional experts on migration issues who, during the first days of the school, provided a theoretical foundation for understanding the diaspora as a development factor. In the second part of the school, workshops were organized where participants exchanged their knowledge, ideas, and personal experiences from working in this field through practical examples and interactive activities.
Dražen Bošković, Deputy Mayor of Trebinje and one of the participants, pointed out that “one of the challenges in working with the diaspora in the Municipality of Trebinje is mapping them, as it is necessary to establish an accurate number of people who left at different times and under different circumstances. This is a crucial database for all other activities, including strengthening the capacity of the local government to cooperate with the diaspora. This could also lead to the establishment of a dedicated office, service, or unit within the municipality or development agency for diaspora cooperation. Another challenge is building trust between the home country and the diaspora because, without that trust, the entire process is futile.”
“The Municipality of Rožaje has recognized the role and significance of the diaspora for its future development and has therefore established a Diaspora Office to facilitate better communication and cooperation. The municipality maintains ties with diaspora associations and prominent businesspeople to identify mutual interests and ensure that cooperation is a two-way process—both in terms of investment opportunities and creating conditions for return. The diaspora is active and strongly connected to their places of origin, and they contribute to their communities through various activities, donations, and philanthropy. The municipality traditionally organizes Diaspora Days to ensure their stay is as enjoyable and productive as possible. Organizing such educational seminars is a valuable experience that reminds us of the pressing demographic issues affecting local governments. The acquired knowledge and experiences, particularly best practices and interactive workshops, help identify problems, launch initiatives, and develop methodologies for mapping the diaspora, as well as finding common interests between the diaspora and local communities to make this cooperation as effective as possible,” concluded Emir Kuč, Chief of Staff to the President of the Municipality of Rožaje.
The school is part of a series of activities led by the Faculty of Geography and WB-MIGNET, aiming to establish a continuous dialogue among different stakeholders to understand migration processes. Additionally, their joint efforts highlight the role of transnational communities in engaging the diaspora in local development through poverty reduction, economic growth, post-crisis recovery, and the creation of an environment where the diaspora’s potential can be realized sustainably.
