The Challenges of Brain Drain Abdigani Jama, Secretary General Somalia Telecom Association 11 th Arab Regional Meeting on HRD/M Khartoum, Sudan Dec , 2003

Outline What is Brain Drain? What is Brain Drain? The impact of the Brain Drain at Different levels and Sectors. The impact of the Brain Drain at Different levels 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 Drain Least Developed Countries and Brain Drain Conclusions. Conclusions.

What is Brain Drain? One way movement of highly skilled people from Developing counties to Developed Countries That only benefits the Industrialized (Host) Countries (UN). One way movement of highly skilled people from Developing counties to Developed Countries That only benefits the Industrialized (Host) Countries (UN). The emigration of highly educated workers from developing countries to developed countries. The emigration of highly educated workers from developing countries to developed countries. Depletion or loss of intellectual and technical personnel. Depletion or loss of intellectual and technical personnel.

What Situation Brain Drain Occurs ? When political uncertainty and future ambiguousness in the nation ( Hong-Kong 1997, South Africa 1994, or disintegration of Soviet Union1990) When political uncertainty and future ambiguousness in the nation ( Hong-Kong 1997, South Africa 1994, or disintegration of Soviet Union1990) When Civil conflict broke-out (Somalia, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Rwanda), When Civil conflict broke-out (Somalia, 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 Drain Developed country to Developed country (USA vs Canada). Developed country to Developed country (USA vs Canada). Developed country to Developing country (USA vs Brasil). Developed country to Developing country (USA vs Brasil). Developing country to Developing country (Saudi Arabia vs Egypt). Developing country to Developing country (Saudi Arabia vs Egypt). Developing country to Developed country (South Africa Vs UK). Developing country to Developed country (South Africa Vs UK).

Why Brain Drain is becoming increasingly important issue? Globalization Globalization Recent Economic Growth, and Recent Economic Growth, and Explosive growth in information communication technology, Explosive growth in information communication technology, As a result: industrialized nations have embarked on massive recruitment drives. As a result: industrialized nations have embarked on massive recruitment drives.

What is the Policy Responses? Six R’s Restriction of International Mobility. Restriction of International Mobility. Recruitment of International Migrants. Recruitment of International Migrants. Reparation for loss of Human capital. Reparation for loss of Human capital. Re-sourcing Expatriates: (Diaspora Options). Re-sourcing Expatriates: (Diaspora Options). Retention Through Educational Sector Policies. Retention Through Educational Sector Policies. Retention Through Economic Development Retention Through Economic Development

Policy Responses Cont. Losing-sending Countries be compensated from gaining receiving countries. Losing-sending Countries be compensated from gaining receiving countries. Personal taxation system (USA) or taxation system on post-industrialized countries. Personal taxation system (USA) or taxation system on post-industrialized countries. Increased training assistance and technology transfer to the developing country. Increased training assistance and technology transfer to the developing country.

Obstacles for Dialogue Lack of constructive dialogue on skilled migration globally. Lack of constructive dialogue on skilled migration globally. Lack of political sensitivities such the exploitations of developing nations to more developed or wealthy nations. Lack of political sensitivities such the exploitations of developing nations to more developed or wealthy nations. Unwillingness to discuss policies that appear to restrict freedom of movement. Unwillingness to discuss policies that appear to restrict freedom of movement. Unwillingness to consider issues of compensation by Post-Industrial Economies Unwillingness to consider issues of compensation by Post-Industrial Economies

LDC and Brain Drain Low Technical skills for rapidly changing Technologies. Low Technical skills for rapidly changing Technologies. Chronic Human Resource Development deficiency. Chronic Human Resource Development deficiency. Lack of prioritizing of available resources. Lack of prioritizing of available resources. Lack of identifying affordable, cheap and appropriate training for unskilled employees. Lack of identifying affordable, cheap and appropriate training for unskilled employees.

LDC and Brain Drain Close to 10 million Arab LDC now constitute an invisible nation that resides outside their boundaries. Close to 10 million Arab LDC now constitute an invisible nation that resides outside their boundaries. If it were to be a nation with distinct borders, it would have an income roughly equivalent to all Arab LDC gross domestic product. If it were to be a nation with distinct borders, it would have an income roughly equivalent to all Arab LDC gross domestic product. International Monetary Fund (IMF) acknowledges its economic importance. International Monetary Fund (IMF) acknowledges its economic importance. Developing countries in Diaspora now constitutes the biggest group of foreign investors in these countries. Developing countries in Diaspora now constitutes the biggest group of foreign investors in these countries.

Retention policy Adopted by some of the LDC Countries Clear career paths for all categories of staff and effect promotions transparently Clear career paths for all categories of staff and effect promotions transparently Adopt shorter-term training strategies Adopt shorter-term training strategies Staffs should be bonded particularly when embarking on training vacations overseas Staffs should be bonded particularly when embarking on training vacations overseas Use the Renewable Contract Award methodology for recruitment Use the Renewable Contract Award methodology for recruitment Create the sense of belonging (ownership of organization) among the employees and share profit accruing from the business Create the sense of belonging (ownership of organization) among the employees and share profit accruing from the business

Retention policy Adopted by some of the LDC Countries Use of e-learning to discourage overseas face-to-face traditional training should be adopted whenever possible Use of e-learning to discourage overseas face-to-face traditional training should be adopted whenever possible Give recognition to returning employees from overseas training and ensure that they share the knowledge and experiences gained Give recognition to returning employees from overseas training and ensure that they share the knowledge and experiences gained Frequent contacts with the home company/ office by the overseas trainee should be mandated by the Human Resource Development Department Frequent contacts with the home company/ office by the overseas trainee should be mandated by the Human Resource Development Department

Retention policy Adopted by some of the LDC Countries Holistic approaches involving all stakeholder consultation for policy formulation and implementation Holistic approaches involving all stakeholder consultation for policy formulation and implementation Need for improving competition in the sector (Innovation) Need for improving competition in the sector (Innovation) Holistic multi-sectorial development approach that can support the ICT sector i.e. energy, Holistic multi-sectorial development approach that can support the ICT sector i.e. energy, Use of appropriate policies and technologies that address the demographic realities of LDCs. Use of appropriate policies and technologies that address the demographic realities of LDCs.

Conclusion Historically, wars between nations have always been about land and its appropriation. Now a new type of war is emerging, the war about technology, human brain and its control. Historically, wars between nations have always been about land and its appropriation. Now a new type of war is emerging, the war about technology, human brain and its control. Because it is only a nation’s human capital that can be converted into real wealth. Because it is only a nation’s human capital that can be converted into real wealth. There is a clear need for international cooperation. There is a clear need for international cooperation.

Thank you for your Attention