Harnessing the Potential of Migration and Return to Promote Development: Applying Concepts to West Africa

It outlines the operational framework and research strategy that will be used to investigate this relationship in an ongoing research project focused on West Africa. The paper presents an overview of the contemporary trends in international migration regarding this geographical region.

It then discusses the consequences that such migrations can have on domestic labour markets, the effects of migrant remittances, and the brain drain phenomenon. The return of migrants and the developmental impacts of potential capital transfers occurring with return, and particularly the transfer of financial, human, and social capital, are also discussed. Finally, this paper presents elements for a meso-level approach to study these issues in order to achieve an improved understanding of the highly complex relationship between international migration, return, and development.