UNCTAD Proposes Diaspora Knowledge Network To Develop Home Countries
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has proposed a diaspora knowledge network mechanism to enable highly skilled members of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) develop their home countries.
These highly skilled expatriates are expected to advance structural change and development by way of strengthening the knowledge base of their countrymen and women.
In its 2012 report on LDC launched in Accra Monday, UNCTAD noted this could be achieved when proactive policies were taken to “incorporate this potentially key function of Diasporas into governments' strategic developmental frameworks.”
The report was presented by the former Special Advisor of UNCTAD's Secretary-General and Chief of Cabinet, Ambassador Kwabena Baah-Duodu on the theme “Harnessing Remittances and Diaspora Knowledge to Build Productive Capacities.”
According to the report, there is ample evidence which points out that the Diaspora Knowledge Network (DKN) had played a critical role in technological upgrading, industrial development and building of productive capacities in source nations.
It urged LDCs to emulate emigrants from countries like India, China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Turkey and Bangladesh who through DKN, had helped in designing their diaspora strategy as an integral part of industrial policy along with a broader national development strategy.
“DKNs have effectively operated as agents of change in both developed and developing countries,” the report echoed.
The report further revealed that for every five people with university level of education in LDCs, one left to seek employment elsewhere as compared to one in 25, in the case of developed countries, adding, it accounted for the high rate of brain drain which now stood at 18.4 per cent.
It however, expressed that six of the 48 LDCs had greater numbers of highly skilled nationals living abroad than at home.
Again, it mentioned that the exodus of people from LDCs for greener pastures in foreign lands had orchestrated the stagnation of their economies.
The report noted that the worst hit sectors were health and education as well as the science and technology where their services were much needed.
Several LDC governments, the report stated, had made efforts to harness the potential of their Diasporans to provide knowledge and technology which could be used at home. However, these attempts, it indicated had yielded insignificant results.
It again, suggested that new industrial policies and strategies should be designed in consideration to the skills and abilities of emigrants.
The proposed knowledge-transfer scheme which is to be called “Investing in Diaspora Knowledge Transfer” consists of financial instruments to target nationals of LDCs who live and work in foreign countries.
UNCTAD believed that enabling LDCs and their populations to achieve a long term economic growth while escaping poverty was possible, provided that their productive capacities were improved.