The intraregional phenomenon of transnational family formation and reunification across African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States reflects a global issue that has not been addressed much on the migration and development agenda. In overall migration policies and debates, the social impacts of migration have received limited attention so far. In particular the positive and negative social effects of mobility on families whose members are based in more than one country need to be taken into consideration.

The most striking observation is the little existing research on transnational families in the South, with most literature on transnational family migration focusing on South–North movements. This phenomenon remains largely unknown due to limited data on its scope coupled with a lack of an adequate policy and legal framework in many countries. There is also a possible link between South–North and South–South transnational family migration.