Diaspora Forum

Newsletter 11

REVERSING THE TREND OF BRAIN DRAIN

THE CASE OF THE ETHIOPIAN DIASPORAS

The Ethiopian Diaspora spans the globe and stretches across all oceans and continents. It can be said that the sun never sets on the Ethiopian Diaspora. Ethiopian Diasporas left their country for variety of reasons; political, social and economic.  Few have been able to return home for short and long visits, few others came home for good and still others have not been able to come back for variety of reasons. Although these people who did not make it to their homeland have been preoccupied with their day to day activities making a living in their adopted country, their attachment to their homeland is still intact.  

The population of the Ethiopian Diaspora is estimated to be over a million. There are more than 500,000 Ethiopian Diasporas in North America alone and they represent a significant number of immigrant populations in some major cities of North America. Their economic strength, educational as well as professional backgrounds and entrepreneurial skill are widely acknowledged in many North American, European and other countries. They live in different countries and speak different languages other than their native ones and are engaged in different vocations. They have developed their communities in their respective cities in order to promote their culture, heritage and help develop their skill and profession. They all have achieved a fair measure of success in their adopted homelands as imminent professors, researchers and scientists, factory workers and laborers etc. What is common in the Ethiopian Diaspora is their cultural heritage and their deep attachment to their country of origin. Many Ethiopians at least believe that they should make a genuine effort to help their country of origin.  

The Ethiopian Diaspora has played an important role in the life of the countries they reside. They contribute as entrepreneurs, workers, traders, teachers, scientists, laborers, researchers, investors, lawyers, doctors, engineers, managers, business consultants, administrators, etc. Their success can be attributed to their cultural heritage, educational values and qualifications and their capacity to harmonize and adapt to the situation in the host countries. Their discipline and cultural values and tradition rooted in their ancient culture and heritage has transformed Ethiopia’s image abroad. It also has a significant bearing on the political relations with the countries they reside. Thus, their destiny has been intertwined with the fortunes of Ethiopia: their country of origin. If Ethiopian Diasporas can have such a positive impact on the economy of their adopted countries, it is not hard to conceptualize how much their knowledge, exposure, skills and money can contribute to the socio-economic progress of their country of origin. Many countries for example, Korea, China, Vietnam, India, the Middle East and parts of Africa have benefited from their Diaspora populations. There is no reason why the Ethiopian Diasporas can not do the same thing. If done in a coordinated fashion, their contribution can make a big difference in the economy of their country of origin. 

Although the advent and explosion of technology and means and pace of travel and communication has brought about a closer interaction between overseas Ethiopians and their country of origin, majority of the Ethiopian population is unacquainted with the kaleidoscopic traits of its Diaspora or with its contribution if any. This trend has become more marked during the last decade as the Ethiopian economy has opened up giving rise to a new range of opportunities for emerging generations. Despite this, the Ethiopian public is relatively unaware with such a phenomenon. Although much has yet to be done, this has also encouraged meaningful interaction between the Diaspora and their country of origin. This can be a great leap forward in the process of achieving significant and interactive impact in all segments of the Diaspora if there is a will from both sides i.e. the Diaspora Ethiopians and their country of origin. 

In views of the vital contribution that can be obtained from the Ethiopian Diaspora to the societies from whence they originate, they are well suited to play a significant role in a variety of fields. Here are some: 

• On Community development: Ethiopians in the Diaspora have in their adopted countries a great experience at and exposure to community work. They can utilize these experiences to help particularly those disadvantaged and/or vulnerable people such as women, children, the elderly, the disabled etc. back home. This can be done among others  by designing workable and concrete community development projects. These projects can focus among others on: skill training for women, youth, and the unemployed and street children. This can be done for example by building community centers, libraries, day care centers, clinics, playgrounds and organizing sport activities etc. 

• On Education: The Diaspora Ethiopians have excelled the expectations of many in North American and European countries in different fields particularly in the field of education. Currently, many Ethiopians are working in the highest scientific fields in many educational institutions in North America and Europe. There are top Ethiopian scientists working even in the highest scientific institute, NASA. Thousands of Ethiopian scholars are teaching as professors and researchers in many fields in the top universities and colleges in many countries of the world. Education is vital for the development of any nation and more so in developing countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, the knowledge, skill, experience and exposure of these highly talented Ethiopian Diasporas can have a big impact in advancing highly needed educational improvement in their country of origin. This can be done among others through the following ways and means: They can invest in universities and colleges by taking advantage of the favorable educational environment back home.  They can effect up-to-date technological transfer from the developed countries to their motherland.  They can also help foster education by creating linkages and educational networks from where they are. Further, they can equip local elementary, high school, universities and colleges with invaluable books, computers and other important educational materials. They don’t even have to spend money for that. They can simply approach big companies such as APPLE, DELL, MICROSOFT, UNIVERSITIES in their backyard. There are companies that even pay the transport costs of books, teaching materials and computers to developing countries like Ethiopia because it is tax deductible. It is a win-win situation. They can also come as scholars to help many universities and colleges back home for a very limited period and this can have a big impact on university linkages, teaching methods, research, and curriculum design etc. This linkage can also reinforce scholarly sponsorship for disadvantaged or poor children. It takes only $50-60 a year to feed and educate a child. We are talking about a dollar a week, simply a cost of a cup of coffee a day in North America and Europe to help a needy child here in their country of origin. 

• On Health: There are many renowned Ethiopian doctors, nurses and pharmacists all over the world and some of their contributions to their adopted countries are well recognized and documented. However, much is desired from them.  These professionals can help their country in a variety of ways such as the following. First, they can begin by forming professional associations and/or non-profit association for tax deductible purposes. They can also send doctors to Ethiopia for a short or a long period like some Diaspora Ethiopian group of medical professionals are currently doing here in Ethiopia. Further, they can help people in need here back home by sending medical equipments, medicines etc. to Ethiopia. There is also a need of their expertise in medical departments within the Ethiopian Universities, health institutions, hospitals, clinics etc. Their participation on this endeavor can change the lives of many people here for the better and to do so is a noble thing. 

• On Investment: According to the Investment Commission of Ethiopia, the Diaspora have invested  several hundreds of millions of Birr in construction, service and manufacturing sectors in the last fourteen years  .However this figure, compared with the number of the Diaspora, is very small. Majority of Ethiopians who li