What does migration have to do with sustainable development? Only a few years ago, migration was studied mainly in terms of the difficulties it caused in both destination and home countries. Today, attention also focuses on the phenomenon's potential.

Migration used to be seen as a one-way street. People left their countries of origin, the educated taking their know-how with them and the less educated their manpower. But today we have come to see the enormous potential of migration. Migrants send back money, or they work for the betterment of their home countries. When they return, they bring the know-how they have gained abroad back to their home countries.

They are mobile, many of them travelling frequently between their host and their home countries. Migrants know the cultures in the two worlds they inhabit, and they speak two languages – an advantage for both the host and home countries. Realising this, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) commissioned GIZ to develop mechanisms and concepts to promote the potential inherent in migration. Cooperation with diaspora communities has already resulted in concrete projects for disadvantaged groups in the countries of origin leading to improvements in living conditions. In addition, GIZ promotes diaspora engagement in the private sector for investment, business start-ups or consultancy. Partner countries are increasingly recognising GIZ as a link between the host and home countries. They see that GIZ can deliver the know-how needed to create a migration policy adapted to both national and individual migrant needs.