This study sheds some light into the kinds of relationships that Angolans living in Portugal and South Africa keep with their country of origin, focusing on the financial remittances that they send back to Angola, as well as on aspects such as the level of organization and the transnational engagement of these communities in the development of their country of origin.

While the involvement of Angolans in collective development initiatives and investment projects could be considered an objective of the migration and development agenda in the long run, remittances are the most direct link between Angolans and their families and country of origin at present.

This study shows that there are many opportunities to further involve Angolans abroad in development cooperation. Facilitating remittance transfers through the adoption of appropriate policies and regulations, to foster competition among service providers in bilateral corridors as well as internally, is one example. Most importantly, reaching out to Angolans in Portugal and South Africa and building trust among these groups seems to be a precondition for enhancing the role of Angolan diasporas in development.