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Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT) is a consortium of researchers and policy makers drawn from national and international universities, institutes and organizations. GRFDT is presently based in India and is shaping as the largest such group focusing specifically on the issues related to diaspora and transnationalism.

The GRFDT works as an academic and policy think tank by engaging national and international experts from academics, practitioners and policy makers in a broad range of areas such as migration policies, transnational linkages of development, human rights, culture, gender to mention a few. In the changing global environment of academic research and policy making, the role of GRFDT will be of immense help to the various stakeholders. Many developing countries cannot afford to miss the opportunity to harness the knowledge revolution of the present era. The engagement of diaspora with various platform need to be reassessed in the present context to engage them in the best possible manner for the development human societies by providing policy input at the national and global context.

Origin of GRFDT Diaspora and transnationalism represent the human face of globalization. There has been significant scholarship on the subject both at empirical and theoretical levels. More recently, there has also been an emerging interest in the associated policy implications amongst various institutions, governments and development organizations. However, there have been very few attempts to synergise, connect and interlink these diaspora studies with contemporary and emerging challenges so as to further enrich comparative research and draw lessons for policy making. Today Diasporic communities are interacting with increasingly complex and volatile global socioeconomic and political systems. This poses major challenges to the existing theoretical frameworks and methodologies to understand explain and analyse diasporic issues. Moreover, disciplinary, institutional and national boundaries have often limited our endeavour to develop a holistic understanding of such complex issues.

Our continued interaction with global experts on Diaspora encouraged us to create an international platform to facilitate, cooperate, collaborate and engage with scholars, diasporic communities, development organizations, businesses and governments worldwide. This is why the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT) was conceived and formally established in 2012. Though launched and based in India, GRFDT’s vision, objective and activities are global in nature. GRFDT is a platform to synergise and make use of the existing global intellectual, cultural and institutional expertise. In addition, the emphasis is on bridging the limitations posed by the so called boundaries.

Major Objectives: i.To generate ideas through discussions, seminars, conferences, etc. on various issues related to Diaspora and Transnationalism. ii.To engage in and promote interdisciplinary research on Diaspora and Transnationalism. iii.To organize advanced level training in research and undertake evaluations in Diaspora and Transnationalism. iv.To publish periodically and/or occasionally journals, books, working papers, newsletters and policy briefs and maintain reference library and online archives, etc. v.To promote dialogue among academicians, policy makers, industry & civil society on various emerging issues relating to Diaspora & Transnationalism. vi.To compile and disseminate ethical issues related to research and policy on Diaspora and Transnationalism. vii.To create and maintain a database of professionals, academicians and policy makers and facilitate research and studies on Diaspora and Transnationalism. viii.To collaborate and work with public and private institutions and organisations focusing on issues related to Diaspora and transnationalism.

www.grfdt.com