Written by Melaku Sahlu - Horizon Ethiopia Staff Writer
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
A few months ago, the Ethiopian Expatriate Affairs Directorate General (along with IOM, UNDP and MOFED) issued an appeal to Ethiopians in the Diaspora asking for qualified applicants who could assist the country in the area of knowledge and technology transfers – basically teaching. This is in fact one element of an attempt to do something about Ethiopia’s sizable Brain Drain problem which if successful could really help to plug in some major gaps in a variety of areas.
Education is one such area where a portion of the government’s strategy has been directed at building a number of higher education facilities in an attempt to increase the national capacity to educate high school graduates . Only problem being, there aren’t anywhere near the number of required, qualified personnel to staff them. Essentially, a good portion of the new facilities are basically lying empty until this problem is addressed. Hence this latest gambit at trying to attract a significant number of such personnel.
This is of course but one indicator of the extent of the Brain Drain problem this country faces. Another can be found in a recent statistic (African Medical and Research Foundation) which claimed there were more Ethiopian doctors on the East Coast of the United States than in Ethiopia.
How Bad Is The Problem?
Both of the sectors mentioned above – Education and Health – are of course areas of critical need in Ethiopia. Clearly, Brain Drain is a problem that is not restricted to just these sectors and the potential severity of this issue for a developing country like Ethiopia is just as evident. Other aspects of this problem are less obvious . Just how big of a problem is it? And is it getting better or worse? The quantifiable answers to these questions require further study but anecdotally speaking, they do not seem good.
Dr. Tewabech Bishaw, Managing Director of Hibret Lelimat Ma’ekel (an NGO dedicated to transforming ‘brain drain’ into ‘brain gain’) believes the problem is “…one of the most complex development challenges for the developing world. For many poor countries, the share of skilled nationals residing in rich countries is staggeringly high.”
Although she also points out the lack of quantitative data to accurately represent the numbers involved, she cites studies by IOM (International Organization for Migration) that show Africa may have lost one third of its skilled human capital and continues to do so . {quote}“African countries spend more than $4 billion annually – representing about 35% of total official development aid to the continent – to employ 100,000 expatriates to fill professional gaps created by migration.” When it comes to Ethiopia, she cites estimates that the country may have lost 30-35% of its skilled and educated professionals over the last 3 decades.
Is Education The Key Driver Of Outbound Emigration?
Many émigrés leave Ethiopia with the professed aim of advancing their education and returning home after completing their objectives.. The stark reality however, is that very few actually do return. The desire to leave may reflect both the quality of education available here as well as the limited opportunities to access what is available. Many high school students that may have the opportunity to leave the country immediately after high school, think of their departure as one of the only hopes they have to make something of themselves.
But the core of the impetus to leave isn’t just about education per se. Rather, it is more about the overall perception of greater opportunity abroad that beckons to so many Ethiopians. Conversely, it may be precisely the perception of lack of opportunity in Ethiopia that still keeps most of its Diaspora away despite what are likely to be deep seated desires to return to home.
From Brain Drain To Brain Gain
Upward trends in economic development may be working to change these perceptions somewhat. Addis these days seems to literally be full of recent returnees or visiting Diaspora engaged in the proverbial Tinat (study) – a seemingly compulsory precursor for a possible move back. But within the context of the enormous size of the Ethiopian Diaspora as well as the still considerable outflow of Ethiopians leaving on a regular basis, the increasing numbers of returnees pale in comparison.
The perception of greater opportunity abroad that many prospective émigrés hold, is not an easy one to reverse. Well beyond higher education, it touches on the wider scope of employment opportunities post graduation, how much one can reasonably expect to get paid, career advancement in one’s chosen field and ultimately, the ability to sustain oneself and one’s future family in a country where the gap between compensation and living expenses seems to grow with every passing year.
The outcome of this calculus is the one we have to make much more progress on if we are to make serious gains in reversing brain drain. The increasing interest that the Diaspora is showing in returning to Ethiopia is an indication that some portion of this effort may be succeeding. But stemming the tide of our best human capital departing for foreign shores should command an even greater effort lest we be taking one step forward and two steps back in this critical fight.
Editor’s Note: For more information on Hibret Lelimat Ma’ekel, visit www.hlmethiopia.org .
Parts of the graphic element used for this article are taken from an article on a similar subject at The Economist. All rights of the original graphic and relevant portions of its dervitatives remain reserved by the original owner of the copyright.
Comments
(2)
Not just ourflow written by You said it , February 02, 2010
I am a Diasporate(that a word ?). I left in the 1980's, returned in 2002 and after trying to make it work I have left again. From now on the only way I will return is if I get an American job that pays American wages in America for me to work there. I won't even get into the rotten politics. But the underhandedness and lies of even the highest officials that tell you "things are better for the diaspora now" is unlike anything I have seen elsewhere in Africa or other parts of the world, and I have been around. The only thing Ethiopia is good for is those who are using other peoples money and for corrupt government officials. I understand there is corruption everywhere even in the US. But this is on another scale and its Byzantine twists are off the wall. I can spare the other diaspora the "tinat" they will lose money on. Go to one of the least developed or worsening LAtin American countries(like Bolivia) and multiply the problems they have (rotten leadership) by 200 and you may get an idea of how it is in Ethiopia.
I am glad you left written by Dan , February 09, 2010
Go back to your US parking lot job and collect your welfare check every month from the government. I live in the US and I am very disappointed in Ethiopians living here next to me, complaining all the time working minimum wages, having absolutely no passion to better themselves and their communities. If you don't go to school and get that PhD/MD/DDS ... , life will become harder whether you live in Ethiopia or the mighty USA. You did a great thing leaving Ethiopia, because the people there don't expect to make millions every year. They just want to improve their lives and help those around them.
A few months ago, the Ethiopian Expatriate Affairs Directorate General (along with IOM, UNDP and MOFED) issued an appeal to Ethiopians in the Diaspora asking for qualified applicants who could assist the country in the area of knowledge and technology transfers – basically teaching. This is in fact one element of an attempt to do something about Ethiopia’s sizable Brain Drain problem which if successful could really help to plug in some major gaps in a variety of areas. 
I can spare the other diaspora the "tinat" they will lose money on. Go to one of the least developed or worsening LAtin American countries(like Bolivia) and multiply the problems they have (rotten leadership) by 200 and you may get an idea of how it is in Ethiopia.