The Hellenic Federation of Enterprises [SEV in Greek] held an event in Athens in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Business Forum organized by SEV (July 2009) on the subject of “The developmental dimension of migration in South-Eastern Mediterranean countries”.

The main objective of the event was to explore how migration and relevant policies may contribute to economic growth in countries of origin and host-countries alike, and how development policies may tackle the main reasons that lead to migration, such as poverty and the lack of socio-economic prospects.

With the support of the Alexander Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, a team from AFFORD (African Foundation for Development) (Irene Omaswa & Ndidi Njoku) were able to present their experiences as diaspora resource persons involved in enterprise development activities in Sierra Leone, at the recent World Bank International Conference on Diaspora and Development in Washington DC.

A “Preparatory Meeting on the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD): Roadmap for Bangladesh” was organized by IOM-Dhaka on 4th June 2009. Representative attended the meeting from relevant ministries, migrants’ and civil society organizations, private sector, recruiting agencies, and international development partners of Bangladesh (IOM, Bangladesh).

The meeting was held in order to initiate the preparatory process of the upcoming 3rd GFMD meeting to be held in Athens in November 2009. IOM and WARBE Development Foundation made a presentation providing a broad overview of the GFMD process, Bangladesh’s participation in the previous two rounds and the main themes and issues of the upcoming round.

The Migration and Remittances team of the Development Economics and Prospects Group (DEPG) of the World Bank is organizing an International Conference on Diaspora and Development on July 13-14, 2009 in Washington D.C.

The diaspora of developing countries can be a potent force for development for their countries of origin, through remittances, but more importantly, through the promotion of trade, investments, knowledge and technology transfers. The conference aims to consolidate research and evidence on these issues with a view to formulating policies in both sending and receiving countries.

One of the main objectives of this Conference 'Multiculturalism and Democracy in the Muslim World' is to discuss ways to integrate multiculturalism in development and the consolidation of democracy, an integrative approach that emphasizes human and social dimension, because at the heart of the matter of culture is a human and socio-economic dimension. The conference will also open new avenues of thought and other prospects to move to another phase of the debate on diversity that would link policy based on cultural difference to democratic culture and to social justice.

WARBE Development Foundation are organizing a Seminar on “Ratification of the Migrants Rights UN Convention 1990 and Implementation of Bangladesh Overseas Employment Policy” supported by DanChurchAid on 1st July, 2009 from 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. at The National Press Club, VIP Lounge.

On July 1, 2003, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families is entering into force. WARBE DF along with partner organizations observing this day as migrants rights solidarity day.