Brain drain - technology ushers in BRAIN GAIN
Viktor Oduba
While many African policy makers are in a panic about the "brain
drain" - the departure of skilled professionals for more lucrative jobs and
opportunities abroad, an analyst suggests how "brain drain" can be
turned into "brain gain".
The departure of scientists and researchers is holding back innovation,
investment, jobs and high economic growth in Africa. It is estimated that up to
40 per cent of the continent's top professionals now live abroad, costing the
continent over US$ 4 million in consultancy and expatriate fees.
No pay no stay
Most of the skilled Africans working abroad say that though they would like to
come back home, many factors deter return. The professional fees and the
salaries they earn abroad simply cannot be matched locally. Examination of the
public sector pay structures in Africa reveals public sector employees are paid
well below the private sector equivalents, unlike in the developed and
high-growth Asian countries.
Declines in public sector wages in Africa have been sharp and potentially
troubling. How can public institutions retain professionals, researchers, and
scientists, in the face of such sharp declines in average real wages? How can
they attract and retain the best and brightest citizens when wages are
systematically lower than which individuals could earn as equivalents or after
training in the OECD countries? It is small wonder then, that for every 100
professionals sent abroad for training, 35 fail to return. Not only does this
cost the continent millions in training fees, it creates a huge personpower
deficit.
The exodus however is not only limited to the public sector. The common problems
transcend the private sector and include economic slump and job cuts, violation
of principles of merit and competition in recruitment and promotion, perceived
corruption and low respect for professionals.
Not just Africa
Brain drain is not uniquely an African affair. Every year about one third of
research and development experts in developing countries migrate to the
industrialised countries. About 80% of Indian computer programmers migrate to
the USA, depriving the Indian economy about US$ 2 billion a year in
innovations.
In policy, the industrialised countries, and the European Union in
particular, is consistently seen as resisting free labour mobility across
borders, particularly between the EU and developing countries. In the last few
years, the EU has put in place very strict measures to hinder labour mobility.
However, the EU countries still continue to compete in the global talent market
for workers such as doctors, nurses, information researchers, technology
specialities and teachers. These countries are very determined to attract highly
skilled migrants to their economies through relaxation of visa regulations for
skilled persons and active overseas recruitment campaigns. In the global labour
market, professionals are seeking out the highest bidders, hitting the nations
that need them hardest.
Economic impact
If these developed countries are net recruiters of our highly qualified
professionals trained with public funds, what implications does it have on our
economies? Grave consequences, if the continent is to stop relying on low priced
and dwindling natural resources for economic growth and break into high growth
"knowledge-based economy". To achieve the transition, the continent
has to put emphasis on technology and innovations. This requires mobilisation of
highly skilled professionals for whom possession of skills is more important to
the country than the individual, emphasis on quality education, scientific
innovations and life-long learning. To make great strides in these areas,
obviously an exodus of skilled professionals must be curbed.
We stand to lose while the developed economies gain at our expense. Indeed,
this is the official approach taken by many governments. The departure of
skilled professionals is ascribed to lack of patriotism. Some policy makers have
gone as far as suggesting that recipients of government scholarships for
training should be bonded, suggesting that government should take legislative
action to prevent skilled people from leaving. Obviously the implied solutions
will have limited success. The suggestions are probably unconstitutional and
internationally unacceptable in a post-communist era. Should these be the only
plausible responses?
Take the case of Kenyan academics, doctors, nurses and engineers who have
left in large numbers for the United States of America, United Kingdom,
Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Southern Africa. It is estimated that, over
400 Kenyan doctors are practicing in Southern Africa. The Kenyans have simply
replaced a small portion of the 3500 South African top medics lured to
Australia, Canada, Britain and New Zealand, by better pay and working
conditions.
It clearly means we should not ignore mobility of African professionals
within the continent. There is demand and an abundant potential supply, but the
two are not yet well matched.
Turning brain drain into brain gain
Should we be apologetic about having Africans working abroad? Not really. In
fact the industrialized countries should open up their job markets further to
qualified Africans. This is one way to access emerging technology, financial
resources and physical capital. The Asian tigers have benefited immensely from
placing their professionals in research institutions and corporations abroad to
an extent that Asian engineers dominate the famous Silicon Valley in the USA,
known for spearheading research and development in computer technology.
A recent survey by the Public Policy Institute of California revealed that
foreign- born Chinese and Indian highly skilled immigrants in Silicon Valley
have successfully adopted the technologically capability and venture-financed,
high growth business models that distinguish many USA firms in the high
technology sector. Many have set up subsidiaries, joint ventures and
sub-contracting arrangements in Asia.
Take the case of Charles Wafula, an electrical engineer in Merrifield,
Virginia. He sips his Kenyan coffee every morning while reading online
newspapers and listening to the radio stations he left behind. In the evenings,
he speaks to his family in a remote village, and inquires about his investments,
using a prepaid phone card that costs him a few cents. Satellite television
allows him to catch broadcast news of his homeland and make rational decisions
about his home investments.
Deregulations of international financial markets coupled with new
technologies have made sending money home easier and cheaper than before. Last
year, people like him remitted over US$ 600 million home, while a mere US$ 70
million came in as foreign direct investment. This is no longer "brain
drain". Technology has greatly expanded the means through which individuals
like him can contribute to Africa's development. "Brain-drain" is
slowly turning into "brain gain".
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