Repository of Practices
Primary GCM Objectives
GCM Guiding Principles*
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Dates
Type of practice
Geographic scope
Geographic Scope:
Summary
The Global Forum on Remittances, Investment and Development (GFRID) is a UN-led, informal process which contributes to shape and steer the debate on remittances and investment towards sustainable development. Through its advocacy work, the GFRID particularly aims at highlighting the crucial contribution migrants make to the wellbeing of their families and communities back home. The GFRID is included - along with the International Day of Family Remittances - in Objective 20 as one of the actionable tools to implement the Global Compact on Migration. It is an informal process that culminates in Summits, held every two years on average, which gather key representatives from governments, UN agencies, private sector entities and civil society. Each Summit has a specific regional/global focus, and contributes to stimulate and feed the ongoing debate on remittances, investments and development. The first GFRID took place in 2007 in Washington D.C., with a global focus. Subsequently, the Summits took place in Tunis (2009, focused on Africa), Bangkok (2013, Asia-Pacific), Milan (2015, Europe), UN Headquarters in New York (2017, global), Kuala Lumpur (2018, Asia-Pacific) and 2021 virtual, with a global scope. Each Summit sees the participation of over 400 representatives across sectors, and has extensive media coverage. Within its framework, the "Sending Money Home" report is released, providing a thorough overview of remittance flows in the different regions to better lay the ground for the Summit discussions. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the GFRID process continues virtually. On 14 December 2020, the virtual GFRIDs, so-called eGFRIDs, were set up to deep dive on specific themes along three main tracks: - markets - enabling environment - remittance families Since its start, 9 eGFRID were held, the last of which on 26 January. These webinars kept the discussions ongoing and contributed to other partners' global processes, such as the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion, the Global Compact on Migration, and the Global Forum on Migration and Development, among others. A report is produced at the end of each Summit, capturing lessons learned and main takeaways.
Organizations
Main Implementing Organization(s)
Partner/Donor Organizations
Benefit and Impact
- Broad participation
- Extensive discussions and deep dives on specific topics
- Contribution to global processes
- Deep partners' engagement
- Regional focus for better market understanding
Key Lessons
- Engage speakers since the beginning, allowing them to mobilize their networks and make them part of the broader GFRID community
- Ensure administrative issues are tackled at the very beginning as there might be restrictions, budget limitations which might hinder the smooth event carry out
- Ensure key roles and responsibilities are assigned, and have one person - the GFRID coordinator - to report to. Otherwise the boundaries are unclear and colleagues might risk not to have the work done, or duplicate it
- Plan dry runs in advance, for the speakers to rehearse and agree on a common leitmotiv that will guide their interventions. Ensure the right questions are asked: "what is the purpose of this panel? What would the main highlights be? What are the takeaways for the broader public? How can we stimulate the debate and scale it up?"
- Share periodic communications with the network and encourage people to register through a simple process
- Think out of the box, through innovative and unexpected solutions to present to the GFRID public
- Keep the communication flow open and transparent, for colleagues, speakers and public
- Prepare templates, checklists and set up processes to save time and deliver timely products (i.e. the GFRID Report)
The eGFRID, albeit virtual, works similarly, without the in-presence part and collaboration with the venue colleagues.
Plan, trust and communication are the key features to consider when organizing an eGFRID, and/or a Summit
Recommendations(if the practice is to be replicated)
- Engage speakers since the beginning, allowing them to mobilize their networks and make them part of the broader GFRID community
- Ensure administrative issues are tackled at the very beginning as there might be restrictions, budget limitations which might hinder the smooth event carry out
- Ensure key roles and responsibilities are assigned, and have one person - the GFRID coordinator - to report to. Otherwise the boundaries are unclear and colleagues might risk not to have the work done, or duplicate it
- Plan dry runs in advance, for the speakers to rehearse and agree on a common leitmotiv that will guide their interventions. Ensure the right questions are asked: "what is the purpose of this panel? What would the main highlights be? What are the takeaways for the broader public? How can we stimulate the debate and scale it up?"
- Share periodic communications with the network and encourage people to register through a simple process
- Think out of the box, through innovative and unexpected solutions to present to the GFRID public
- Keep the communication flow open and transparent, for colleagues, speakers and public
- Prepare templates, checklists and set up processes to save time and deliver timely products (i.e. the GFRID Report) - this ensures sustainability of the GFRID (and eGFRID) process, as well as replicability by other interested partners.
Innovation
It is the only platform that allows them to interact, exchange views, learn from each other and forge partnerships, as otherwise they won't have the possibility to meet.
This is why the GFRID process was included in the GC/M in Objective 20, as one of the actionable tools to implement it.
In addition, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the process has been held virtually, through Zoom and its refined features, allowing more people to join remotely.
Additional Resources
Media
Date submitted:
*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).