This paper takes up an important aspect of the current migration and development debate
- the role of diasporas and transnational communities as contributors to the development
of their origin countries.

In the first section, the author reviews different definitions of diasporas and
transnational communities. He then provides some statistical information and
estimates available on diaspora communities in different regions of the world with
some discussion of their profiles. In the next section, the author examines the nature
and diversity of diaspora contributions to development as documented by various
writers, and concludes by suggesting areas for further study and research.