Diaspora return and knowledge transfer

Different forms of return by migrants to their country of origin may be used for knowledge transfer and yield impacts on development. Diaspora return programmes emerged in the 1970s as a method to formalise diaspora knowledge transfer. The first part of this chapter analyses the current debate with regard to diaspora return and knowledge transfer. In the second part, a case study of diaspora return and knowledge transfer is presented by drawing on research conducted on a diaspora return programme. The case study demonstrates that, through this form of return, diaspora experts can contribute to knowledge transfer and capacity development at organisations in their country of origin. It also shows that the extent to which knowledge transfer and capacity development take place depends on a series of factors.