FORUM: "Let's Work together to create a supportive environment for remittances." International Day of Family Remittances 2025. Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, conflict, and rising inequality, one financial flow has remained remarkably steady: the money migrants send home. On the this day we celebrate the powerful role of migrants and diaspora communities in supporting families and driving development worldwide through remittance flows. In 2024 alone, migrants sent an estimated USD 700 billion to low- and middle-income countries. These transfers now surpass official development assistance and foreign direct investment to those same countries, making remittances one of the most dependable sources of external financing. More than just lifelines, remittances enable families to meet essential needs, from food and housing to education and healthcare. They also help communities recover and rebuild, supporting job creation, small businesses, and economic resilience, especially in areas affected by conflict and displacement. Beyond their impact on families and communities back home, remittances also support host communities by stimulating local economies and strengthening social ties. Migrants provide a vital workforce for host countries, meeting labor gaps, and bolstering economic growth, creating a win-win situation. IOM works globally to expand access to financial services, promote safe and regular migration pathways, and support migrants in contributing meaningfully to both their countries of origin and destination. Despite their impact, remittance flows are often hindered by high transfer costs and limited access to financial services. IOM continues to advocate for lower transaction fees, expanded digital and financial tools, safer and regular migration pathways, and greater inclusion of diaspora communities in national development strategies. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #familyremittances, #16June, #FinancialInclusion, #DigitalRemittances.
STATEMENTS: “When migrants send money home, they are doing far more than providing for their families,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “They are building stronger communities, boosting local economies, and helping entire regions recover and grow. Remittances support children’s education, allow women to start businesses, and provide a vital cushion in times of crisis. When invested wisely, they are a powerful tool for development that benefits both countries of origin and destination.”
FORUM: "Digital remittances towards financial inclusion and cost reduction.'' International Day of Family remittances 2024. The Day calls upon governments, the private sector, development agencies, regulators, and civil society to observe the Day and to share their commitment and contributions tomaximizing the impact of remittances through individual and collective action. The International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR), established by the United Nations General Assembly,
highlights every year the significant sums of money that over 200 million migrants send home to improve the
lives of over 800 million family members.
This Day draws our attention to the economic impact of this money on households, communities, and nations,
and recognises the sacrifice, separation and generosity often involved.
Between 2015 and 2030, it is projected that US$6.5 trillion will have been sent home by migrants to lower- and
middle- income countries, with much of this money going directly to rural areas. Rural areas where 80% of the
world’s poor live, face food shortages, and the impacts of climate change are the most pronounced.
This money, sent by migrants and diaspora communities, directly supports millions of families to achieve their
own Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They contribute directly to poverty alleviation, education,
healthcare, small business development, gender equality, and rural economic growth.
The theme of the 2023-2024 #FamilyRemittances campaign, "Digital remittances towards financial inclusion
and cost reduction," draws our attention to the positive effects of digitisation in reducing the costs of sending
money home, improving access, and advancing financial inclusion.
On this Day, we not only acknowledge the contributions made by migrants, but also reflect on and celebrate
the work, collaboration and partnerships involved by so many, including financial service providers, money
transfer operators, governments, and regulators, to facilitate these flows, and the significant achievements
made. Over the past decade, we have seen a transformation for many of us in the way we send and receive crossborder money transfers, with significant improvements in the affordability, access and convenience of
services, as well as the broader financial services available to us.
However, this is not the case for everyone. There still exists significant barriers to digital remittance services
and financial services for many people, especially amongst the most vulnerable / marginalised and many living
in rural areas. Aligning with the SDG Universal Value to' Leave No One Behind,' our primary focus remains on
achieving inclusivity and access to digital remittance and financial services. We need to make sure that the
same benefits we have seen for many, are available for all. The IFAD actively works with the private sector and public authorities to ensure a lasting and inclusive
approach supporting the transformative potential of remittances. And we do this directly in our programmes
of loans and grants and by sharing our savoir faire to others. Join us, and let us work together, one family at a time, to digitise remittances towards financial inclusion and
cost reduction, and to leave no one behind. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #FamilyRemittances.
EVENTS: On the 16th June 2024, we will celebrate the achievements that have been made in digitalizing remittances towards cost reduction and financial inclusion, whilst taking stock of what remains to be done to ‘Leave No One Behind’. During the day, we will: • Recognize the contributions made by migrants all over the world to their families, friends, communities and countries through the money they send home. Helping families to reach their own SDGs. • On behalf of all the receivers of remittances, extend gratitude and say thank you, recognizing the sacrifice, separation and generosity that are often involved in sending money home. • Recognize and commend to all those involved the significant achievements that have been made in and around international and domestic remittances to facilitate affordable, safe, secure, transparent, fast and convenient remittances services. • Make a pledge to continue to work in partnership and collaboratively to leave no one behind – to digitalize remittances towards financial inclusion and cost reduction. Through the IDFR observance, the United Nations aims to bring greater awareness about the impact that remittances have on millions of households, communities, and countries. This year, the IDFR was observed in:
Use digital platforms and networks, to raise awareness globally of the valuable role that migrants are playing in supporting families, communities, and countries on the International Day for Family Remittances (IDFR). Tell your story or your initiatives using the template available here. Use hashtag #familyremittances and tag us on X and LinkedIn.
Endorse the IDFR and this year’s campaign:
We warmly invite the public sector, private sector, international organizations and civil society to endorse the IDFR 2024. This year we are focusing on celebrating the achievements that have been made in digitalizing remittances towards cost reduction and financial inclusion, whilst taking stock of what remains to be done to “Leave No One Behind“.
In light of this, please endorse the campaign by:
Sharing your role and successes, over the last decade, especially in:Digitalizing remittances;
Supporting financial inclusion;
Supporting cost reduction of remittances; and
Improving access to remittance and financial services.
Sharing your plans and commitment to the above four outcomes, in line with the SDG 2nd Principle to “Leave No One Behind”.
Sharing your personal stories about how you have supported others or been supported or impacted by remittances.
AWARDS: In observance of the 2023 IDFR on June 16th, and as part of the campaign, the 2023IDFR Awards will be presented to those entities, groups, companies and organizations which best embody the values of the Day and have served the needs and interests of remittance families over the years. In response to the United Nations Member States’ call for global efforts in support of the IDFR objectives, awardees will be invited to become honorary representatives of the IDFR through IFAD’s family remittances campaign. The awardees will be selected from the public and private sectors and the civil society by April 2023 for their outstanding activities, innovative initiatives and services or advocacy efforts.
How to get involved - Raise Awareness on Family remittances - Build your own social media package, draft a thematic newsletter for your network or organize an online event. Take part in the global discussion by using the hashtag #familyremittances - Think creatively on how you can bring this opportunity to the world’s attention.
- Use personal stories and compelling photos to illustrate the reality of the one billion people directly involved in remittances - Take advantage of the IDFR Trello board
