Helping Countries Build Diaspora Readiness
Diaspora Country Index (DCI) measures how prepared countries are to engage their diasporas. We identify gaps in policies, institutions, and coordination, and develop frameworks to help governments and partners strengthen diaspora engagement. Our work begins in Africa, with a wider Global South focus.
Diaspora readiness means having the policies, institutions, relationships, and systems needed to turn diaspora capital, expertise, technology and networks into measurable development outcomes.
As countries seek more diversified sources of capital, expertise, technology and partnerships, DCI positions diaspora readiness as an important layer of development infrastructure.
Explore Our Research
“Our Indices Assess The Conditions Supporting Diaspora Readiness In Development Finance, Tech Transfer, And Climate Action”
Diaspora Bond Readiness Index
Assessing diaspora engagement policy, sovereign credit ratings, and remittance dependence to inform discussions about diaspora financing readiness.
Diaspora Technology Transfer Readiness Index
Assessing the policies, institutions, and partnerships supporting diaspora technology transfer, with a focus on innovation, research commercialization, manufacturing capabilities, export readiness, and job creation.
Diaspora Climate Readiness Index
Assessing the policies, institutions, expertise networks, research partnerships, and initiatives supporting diaspora engagement in climate action.
Diaspora Readiness in a Lower-ODA Era
In a lower-ODA (Official Development Assistance) environment, countries need durable systems for engaging diaspora talent, expertise, and capital. These foundations include accountable institutions, clear participation rules, trusted investment channels, and partnerships connecting diaspora professionals with domestic firms, universities, and public agencies.
For DCI, systems change means strengthening how countries organize, coordinate, and sustain diaspora engagement. Our indices identify readiness gaps. Our case studies examine practical lessons. We seek partners to develop and test frameworks supporting technology transfer, productive investment, climate action, and industrial development.
The goal is lasting national capacity: institutions equipped to engage diaspora professionals, businesses prepared to absorb knowledge and technology, and credible pathways for diaspora investment. This work complements development assistance and strengthens countries’ ability to pursue their own development priorities.
Featured Insight
Ethiopia’s GERD: Lessons for Diaspora Infrastructure Finance
What does Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam teach other countries about engaging their diasporas?
Explore the financing approach, the diaspora’s role, and lessons for building trust, institutional readiness, and participation in national infrastructure.
Explore the GERD Infographic
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What We Do
Measure Readiness:
Publish benchmarks showing strengths and gaps in diaspora engagement.
Diagnose Readiness Gaps:
Identify institutional, policy, coordination, financing, and capability gaps that prevent countries from effectively mobilizing diaspora capital, expertise, technology, and networks.
Develop Practical Frameworks and Toolkits:
Translate research into policy guidance and tools for governments, stakeholders, private sector, and partners.
Build Readiness for Economic Development:
Identify practical steps to strengthen the policies, institutions, and partnerships countries need to engage diaspora expertise, technology, and capital in support of innovation, manufacturing, and job creation.
Areas of Focus
Diaspora Development Finance
Assessing the conditions supporting diaspora participation in development finance, beginning with diaspora bond readiness.
Policy & Institutional Readiness
Identifying gaps in government mandates, coordination, and engagement systems, and developing practical guidance to address them.
Technology Transfer & Manufacturing
Diaspora researchers, engineers, founders and industry professionals connect local partners with international knowledge, equipment, production practices and markets.
Diaspora Climate Readiness
Examining the policies, expertise networks, research partnerships, and initiatives supporting diaspora participation in climate action.
Diaspora Expertise & Knowledge Partnerships
Identifying pathways for diaspora professionals, universities, and institutions to contribute technical expertise to national development priorities.
Connecting Diaspora Readiness to Development Priorities
DCI assesses the policies, institutions, capabilities, and networks supporting diaspora participation in development finance, technology transfer, industrial transformation, and climate action.
This work aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Our indices measure readiness foundations. Progress toward development outcomes requires implementation, resources, and sustained partnerships.