The role of social remittances in promoting innovation and transformative social change: the case of a Honduran diaspora knowledge network

International migration transforms societies. In this process of transformation, not only are individuals who migrated transformed as a result of social interaction and the adoption of social rules and norms in their host countries, but individuals, families and societies in origin countries are also transformed as a result of the dynamic of social connections and their spill-over effects (Nyberg Sørensen, 2004). While remittances have traditionally been measured as monetary flows and the effects of these flows in economic development widely discussed, a growing amount of literature and empirical evidence highlight the importance of non-monetary, intangible flows (Lacroix et. al., 2016; Lindley, 2009). The complex nature of human mobility poses a great challenge to measuring the impact of social remittances in innovation and societal change (Grabwoska et. al., 2017). Diasporas, and their role in transferring knowledge through diaspora knowledge networks also play a crucial role in brokering down knowledge and having an impact on societal transformation (Discua and Fromm, 2018). In the examination of literature and empirical evidence, one can observe examples of how the mobilization of diaspora knowledge networks can have a positive impact in societal transformation through fostering these networks and capitalizing on their potential to transfer knowledge and experience and thus promoting innovation (Aikins and White, 2014). The purpose of this study is to examine social remittances and their role in promoting innovation and societal change, based on the experience of a Honduran diaspora knowledge network.