Although the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes migrants as “agents of change” and “enablers for development in countries of origin, transit and destination”, the Agenda primarily focuses on the migrant as a beneficiary of the ends of sustainable development (e.g. through greater protections, rights and transparency), but not as an agent of the means of sustainable development itself. Furthermore, the Agenda does not make reference to the broader concept of diasporas or to the role that they do and can play in development globally. Diasporans can only be part of the “means” if their own development potential is maximized.

In this paper, the author posits that diasporas can be engaged as potential partners for sustainable development and that diaspora human, financial and social capital can be employed to achieve progress on a myriad of development goals in countries of origin. First, the multidimensional context that structures diaspora engagement at the individual, organizational and ecosystem levels is explained. Then, several case studies of diaspora engagement for development are presented, identifying specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which they contribute. Lastly, the article concludes with several suggestions and cautionary notes for global actors seeking to engage diasporas for development purposes.