Migrations and Rural Finance. Focus on the Euro-Mediterranean Area

The aim of this research work is to discuss the unexploited potential of rural finance, in sight of addressing some root causes of migratory flows and suggesting ways to support displaced populations, within the framework of sustainable development. Actually, this section of the financial industry keeps unveiling innovative tools that are likely to help European countries to manage migration policies and people on the other shores of the Mediterranean Sea to stay on their land, while pursuing strategic goals, such as those set forth in the “Europe 2020” agenda. Subsegments that include agricultural finance, agricultural value chain finance and agricultural microfinance deserve unprecedented attention, especially in the Euro-Mediterranean area. Lessons learned lead to stress that investing in resilient agriculture and rural livelihoods can foster growth and financial inclusion, thus contributing to solve global problems; those that pertain to food security and poverty reduction spearhead the priority list. Conclusions encompass academic challenges, that may allow Universities to play a crucial role, as shown by their involvement in clusters and particularly in industrial and technological districts that specialize in agricultural commodities. Key messages and recommendations are based upon the flight to quality in agribusiness; improvements can be attained, for instance by promoting best practices in financial management, by upgrading the supply of financial services to smallholder farmers and by disseminating financial education in rural communities.