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The Challenges of The Challenges of Brain DrainBrain Drain
Abdigani Jama,Abdigani Jama,Secretary General Secretary General
Somalia Telecom AssociationSomalia Telecom Association
1111thth Arab Regional Meeting on Arab Regional Meeting on HRD/MHRD/M
Khartoum, Sudan Khartoum, Sudan Dec. 16 -18, 2003 Dec. 16 -18, 2003
Outline
What is Brain Drain? What is Brain Drain? The impact of the Brain Drain at Different The impact of the Brain Drain at Different
levels and Sectorslevels and Sectors . . Importance of Brain Drain. Importance of Brain Drain. Policy Responses, Policy Responses, Obstacles for Dialogue, Obstacles for Dialogue, Least Developed Countries and Brain DrainLeast Developed Countries and Brain Drain Conclusions.Conclusions.
What is Brain Drain?
One way movement of highly skilled people One way movement of highly skilled people from Developing counties to Developed from Developing counties to Developed Countries That only benefits the Industrialized Countries That only benefits the Industrialized (Host) Countries (UN).(Host) Countries (UN).
The emigration of highly educated workers The emigration of highly educated workers from developingfrom developing countries to developed countries to developed countries.countries.
Depletion or loss of intellectual and technical Depletion or loss of intellectual and technical personnel.personnel.
What Situation Brain Drain Occurs ?What Situation Brain Drain Occurs ?
When political uncertainty and future When political uncertainty and future ambiguousness in the nation ( Hong-Kong ambiguousness in the nation ( Hong-Kong 1997, South Africa 1994, or disintegration of 1997, South Africa 1994, or disintegration of Soviet Union1990)Soviet Union1990)
When Civil conflict broke-out (Somalia, When Civil conflict broke-out (Somalia, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Rwanda),Afghanistan, Bosnia and Rwanda),
When Power Transition takes place When Power Transition takes place (Nigeria, Kenya),(Nigeria, Kenya), When Country is Occupied( Palestine, Iraq)When Country is Occupied( Palestine, Iraq)
Four Dimension That Falls Under Brain Four Dimension That Falls Under Brain DrainDrain
Developed country to Developed country Developed country to Developed country (USA vs Canada).(USA vs Canada).
Developed country to Developing country Developed country to Developing country (USA vs Brasil).(USA vs Brasil).
Developing country to Developing country Developing country to Developing country (Saudi Arabia vs Egypt).(Saudi Arabia vs Egypt).
Developing country to Developed country Developing country to Developed country (South Africa Vs UK(South Africa Vs UK).).
Why Brain Drain is becoming Why Brain Drain is becoming increasingly important issue?increasingly important issue?
GlobalizationGlobalization
Recent Economic Growth, and Recent Economic Growth, and
Explosive growth in information Explosive growth in information communication technology,communication technology,
As a result: industrialized nations have As a result: industrialized nations have embarked on massive recruitment drives.embarked on massive recruitment drives.
What is the Policy Responses?What is the Policy Responses?Six R’sSix R’s
RRestriction of International Mobility.estriction of International Mobility. RRecruitment of International Migrants.ecruitment of International Migrants. RReparation for loss of Human capital.eparation for loss of Human capital. RRe-sourcing Expatriates: (Diaspora Options).e-sourcing Expatriates: (Diaspora Options). RRetention Through Educational Sector etention Through Educational Sector
Policies. Policies. RRetention Through Economic Developmentetention Through Economic Development
Policy Responses Cont.Policy Responses Cont.
Losing-sending Countries be compensated Losing-sending Countries be compensated from gaining receiving countries.from gaining receiving countries.
Personal taxation system (USA) or taxation Personal taxation system (USA) or taxation
system on post-industrialized countries.system on post-industrialized countries.
Increased training assistance and technology Increased training assistance and technology transfer to the developing country. transfer to the developing country.
Obstacles for DialogueObstacles for Dialogue
Lack of constructive dialogue on skilled Lack of constructive dialogue on skilled migration globally.migration globally.
Lack of political sensitivities such the Lack of political sensitivities such the exploitations of developing nations to more exploitations of developing nations to more developed or wealthy nations.developed or wealthy nations.
Unwillingness to discuss policies that appear Unwillingness to discuss policies that appear to restrict freedom of movement. to restrict freedom of movement.
Unwillingness to consider issues of Unwillingness to consider issues of compensation by Post-Industrial Economiescompensation by Post-Industrial Economies
LDC and Brain DrainLDC and Brain Drain
Low Technical skills for rapidly changing Low Technical skills for rapidly changing Technologies.Technologies.
Chronic Human Resource Development Chronic Human Resource Development deficiency.deficiency.
Lack of prioritizing of available resources.Lack of prioritizing of available resources. Lack of identifying affordable, cheap and Lack of identifying affordable, cheap and
appropriate training for unskilled employees.appropriate training for unskilled employees.
LDC and Brain DrainLDC and Brain Drain Close to 10 million Arab LDC now constitute Close to 10 million Arab LDC now constitute
an invisible nation that resides outside their an invisible nation that resides outside their boundaries. boundaries.
If it were to be a nation with distinct borders, it If it were to be a nation with distinct borders, it would have an income roughly equivalent to would have an income roughly equivalent to all Arab LDC gross domestic product. all Arab LDC gross domestic product.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) International Monetary Fund (IMF) acknowledges its economic importance.acknowledges its economic importance.
Developing countries in Diaspora now Developing countries in Diaspora now constitutes the biggest group of foreign constitutes the biggest group of foreign investors in these countries.investors in these countries.
Retention policy Adopted by some of Retention policy Adopted by some of the LDC Countriesthe LDC Countries
Clear career paths for all categories of staff and effect Clear career paths for all categories of staff and effect promotions transparently promotions transparently
Adopt shorter-term training strategiesAdopt shorter-term training strategies
Staffs should be bonded particularly when embarking on training Staffs should be bonded particularly when embarking on training vacations overseasvacations overseas
Use the Renewable Contract Award methodology for Use the Renewable Contract Award methodology for recruitmentrecruitment
Create the sense of belonging (ownership of organization) Create the sense of belonging (ownership of organization)
among the employees and share profit accruing from the among the employees and share profit accruing from the business business
Retention policy Adopted by some of Retention policy Adopted by some of the LDC Countriesthe LDC Countries
Use of e-learning to discourage overseas face-to-face Use of e-learning to discourage overseas face-to-face traditional training should be adopted whenever traditional training should be adopted whenever possible possible
Give recognition to returning employees from Give recognition to returning employees from overseas training and ensure that they share the overseas training and ensure that they share the knowledge and experiences gainedknowledge and experiences gained
Frequent contacts with the home company/ office by Frequent contacts with the home company/ office by the overseas trainee should be mandated by the the overseas trainee should be mandated by the Human Resource Development DepartmentHuman Resource Development Department
Retention policy Adopted by some of Retention policy Adopted by some of the LDC Countriesthe LDC Countries
Holistic approaches involving all stakeholder Holistic approaches involving all stakeholder consultation for policy formulation and consultation for policy formulation and implementationimplementation
Need for improving competition in the sector Need for improving competition in the sector (Innovation)(Innovation)
Holistic multi-sectorial development approach that Holistic multi-sectorial development approach that can support the ICT sector i.e. energy, can support the ICT sector i.e. energy,
Use of appropriate policies and technologies that Use of appropriate policies and technologies that address the demographic realities of LDCs. address the demographic realities of LDCs.
ConclusionConclusion
Historically, wars between nations have Historically, wars between nations have always been about land and its appropriation. always been about land and its appropriation. Now a new type of war is emerging, the war Now a new type of war is emerging, the war about technology, human brain and its about technology, human brain and its control.control.
Because it is only a nation’s human capital that Because it is only a nation’s human capital that can be converted into real wealth.can be converted into real wealth.
There is a clear need for international There is a clear need for international cooperation. cooperation.
