Dynamics and factors influencing return migration to Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
Background: Return migration, the process of migrants returning to their countries of origin, is a vital aspect of migration that has received growing attention in recent years. One area of focus in the study of return migration is understanding the motivations that drive migrants to return home. Co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023059996 |
| _version_ | 1827856148474101760 |
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| author | Lemlem F. Weldemariam Ayansina Ayanlade Marion Borderon Karoline Möslinger |
| author_facet | Lemlem F. Weldemariam Ayansina Ayanlade Marion Borderon Karoline Möslinger |
| author_sort | Lemlem F. Weldemariam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Return migration, the process of migrants returning to their countries of origin, is a vital aspect of migration that has received growing attention in recent years. One area of focus in the study of return migration is understanding the motivations that drive migrants to return home. Conducting a regional literature review on the dynamics and factors influencing return migration can provide valuable insights into this complex and dynamic phenomenon. It can inform policy development, help to address economic and social issues and contribute to our understanding of migration patterns and trends in the region. Purpose: This study, therefore, aims to understand the dynamics and factors that influence return migration to Sub-Saharan Africa, a region that has experienced significant outflows of migration over the past few decades. This study provides an understanding of the drivers of and barriers to return migration and how far they resonate with factors of mobility and immobility. Methods: A two-decade systematic literature review was conducted to determine the driving factors and barriers that influence return migration to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Multivariate factors of return migration were examined based on the central question: why do migrants return to their homeland? The multiple-step systematic literature search covers a broad range of factors of return migration to sub-Saharan Africa. Result: The findings indicate complex scenarios influencing decisions to return to the region, with the interplay of driving factors as well as barriers to return. Social, personal, economic, and policy factors were among the major drivers of return migration, but social and personal drivers were found to be the major motivating factors of decisions to return to SSA, compared to policy and economic issues. The observed drivers and barriers to returning migration in SSA were categorized and discussed under thematic sections considering structural, individual and policy issues. Conclusion: The study concludes that migrants’ decisions to return could be determined by numerous structural factors, such as economic, political, social and environmental circumstances, both at the place of origin and at the destination. Therefore, the review could be a useful contribution to future research, governments, mobility-oriented organizations and policymakers for effective return-migration strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:21:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-439b69f03bba417694559bb45f26d821 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:21:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-439b69f03bba417694559bb45f26d8212023-08-30T05:52:38ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-08-0198e18791Dynamics and factors influencing return migration to Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic reviewLemlem F. Weldemariam0Ayansina Ayanlade1Marion Borderon2Karoline Möslinger3Department of Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna, Universitätsstraße 7/5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Corresponding author. Department of Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna, Universitätsstraße 7/5, 1010 Vienna, Austria.Department of Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna, Universitätsstraße 7/5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Department of Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, NigeriaDepartment of Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna, Universitätsstraße 7/5, 1010 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna, Universitätsstraße 7/5, 1010 Vienna, AustriaBackground: Return migration, the process of migrants returning to their countries of origin, is a vital aspect of migration that has received growing attention in recent years. One area of focus in the study of return migration is understanding the motivations that drive migrants to return home. Conducting a regional literature review on the dynamics and factors influencing return migration can provide valuable insights into this complex and dynamic phenomenon. It can inform policy development, help to address economic and social issues and contribute to our understanding of migration patterns and trends in the region. Purpose: This study, therefore, aims to understand the dynamics and factors that influence return migration to Sub-Saharan Africa, a region that has experienced significant outflows of migration over the past few decades. This study provides an understanding of the drivers of and barriers to return migration and how far they resonate with factors of mobility and immobility. Methods: A two-decade systematic literature review was conducted to determine the driving factors and barriers that influence return migration to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Multivariate factors of return migration were examined based on the central question: why do migrants return to their homeland? The multiple-step systematic literature search covers a broad range of factors of return migration to sub-Saharan Africa. Result: The findings indicate complex scenarios influencing decisions to return to the region, with the interplay of driving factors as well as barriers to return. Social, personal, economic, and policy factors were among the major drivers of return migration, but social and personal drivers were found to be the major motivating factors of decisions to return to SSA, compared to policy and economic issues. The observed drivers and barriers to returning migration in SSA were categorized and discussed under thematic sections considering structural, individual and policy issues. Conclusion: The study concludes that migrants’ decisions to return could be determined by numerous structural factors, such as economic, political, social and environmental circumstances, both at the place of origin and at the destination. Therefore, the review could be a useful contribution to future research, governments, mobility-oriented organizations and policymakers for effective return-migration strategies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023059996Return migrationDriving factorsBarriersSub-Saharan Africa |
| spellingShingle | Lemlem F. Weldemariam Ayansina Ayanlade Marion Borderon Karoline Möslinger Dynamics and factors influencing return migration to Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review Heliyon Return migration Driving factors Barriers Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title | Dynamics and factors influencing return migration to Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review |
| title_full | Dynamics and factors influencing return migration to Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Dynamics and factors influencing return migration to Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamics and factors influencing return migration to Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review |
| title_short | Dynamics and factors influencing return migration to Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review |
| title_sort | dynamics and factors influencing return migration to sub saharan africa a systematic review |
| topic | Return migration Driving factors Barriers Sub-Saharan Africa |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023059996 |
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