Panel 95: On African Terms: Migration, Development and Gender

In today’s world, migration flows seem to be increasing and are conceptualised as an emergency, especially in the context of Africa. Migration whether due to economic, social or political factors, including violent conflicts, development projects and environmental disasters has been a permanent and recurring phenomenon in African societies, as well as elsewhere. It is also often perceived as a remedy to diverse problems such as underdevelopment and violent conflicts. This panel will address the meaning, processes and impact of migration on African countries and communities.

Some research and policy discourses perceive migration, and especially return migration and the flows of economic remittances from diaspora as having developmental impact on the economy in sending countries. This panel attempts to critically assess this assumption and problematise the link between migration, development and gender. This includes a critical perspective of African migrant women and men as well as those have stayed behind on the processes and impacts of migration on their communities and their personal lives. Key questions:

- What kind of development is an outcome of migration and from whose perspective?

- How is development defined and prioritised by the African migrant and stayee women and men?

- Is development (and what type of development) the same for women and men?

- What type of remittances are African diasporas engaged in? What are the differences between women and men in terms of the types of remittances they send and their impact?

- What are the impacts and links between political 'remittances' of African diasporas and 'development' in sending communities/countries?

- What impact on social relations, gender categories and identity politics do migration and its processes of return carry with them?