The Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT) is a consortium of researchers and policymakers drawn from national and international universities, institutes, and organisations. GRFDT is registered under Society Registration Act XXI of 1860, No: S-E/296/Dist South-East/2014. GRFDT is presently registered in India with members and partners spread across countries in the Gulf, Africa, US, Europe, Australia, North America and the Caribbean. GRFDT is shaping up to be the largest network of migration governance experts focusing specifically on the issues related to Migration, Diaspora and transnationalism. The GRFDT works as an academic and policy think tank by engaging national and international experts, that include academicians, practitioners, policymakers and, industry experts hailing from a broad range of areas such as migration policies, transnational linkages of development, human rights, culture, gender to mention a few.
In 2020-21, GRFDT dedicated its resources and channelled efforts to support discourse and advocate for critical action in some areas (i.e. strategies to support stranded migrants) that are particularly impacted by the migration side-effects of COVID-19. During this period, GRFDT has completed all 23 GCM Objectives Review Series webinars (September 2020- March 2021) in collaboration with other International Civil Society Organisations. Presently GRFDT is in collaboration with iDiaspora (IOM), The European Union Global Diaspora Facility (EUDiF), Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), Freedom Collaborative (Liberty Shared), Cross Regional Center for Refugees and Migrants (CCRM), International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD), Metropolis Asia- Pacific, Alianza America (AA), Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM), Freedom Collaborative, and South Asian Regional Trade Union Council (SARTUC) and working on a range of issues related to research projects, academic programmes, advocacy, journalism and so on. All these programmes draw students and resource persons from all across the globe. GRFDT also conducted the People Migration Challenge Series (Round 1, 2, 3, 4) of interactive webinars in 2021. GRFDT initiated the second round of GCM review from 12 October 2021 till date. It is also covering the Certificate Programme of GCM for the new batch.
GRFDT has a range of publications i.e. peer-reviewed journal Migration and Diasporas: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Research Monograph, Policy Briefs, Newsletter (Roots and Routes). GRFDT has its own media outreach platform, The Migration News, to cover issues related to Migration and Diaspora. Also, it is in the process of launching a Digital Museum of Diaspora soon in collaboration with many other international organisations.
Besides, it has a Media outreach portal 'The Migration News' that covers range of issues related to migration and diaspora.
It has its own educational programmes such as Certificate in Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in collaboration with host of other international organisations and Certificate Programme in Migration Governance and Diaspora Engagement in collaboration with iDiaspora and CISAN, UNAM and ADEPT