Background

The Origins of TOKTEN:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) introduced TOKTEN in 1977 to help reduce adverse effects of the “Brain-Drain” phenomena or "reverse transfer of technology" in many developing countries. TOKTEN offers a window of opportunity for expatriate nationals with lengthy experiences in their fields of specialization to return to their home countries, for an agreed period of time. TOKTEN modality is considered as an efficient development intervention as TOKTEN Volunteers can merge their acquired learning with their familiarity of local culture and language in order to effectively transfer their knowledge and skills.

TOKTEN has since being expanded to more than 30 countries including: India, Pakistan, China, the Philippines, Poland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Vietnam, Lebanon, Syria, Senegal, Nigeria, among other countries. In these countries, highly skilled expatriate professionals have provided technical expertise, policy advice and research to governments, private and public sectors, universities, and research centers in various fields.

Establishment of TOKTEN in Sudan:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) introduced TOKTEN in 1977 to help reduce adverse effects of the “brain-drain” phenomena or "reverse transfer of technology" in many developing countries. A large number of qualified and experienced professionals, who could contribute to the recovery and development process, live outside their country. TOKTEN offers a window of opportunity for expatriate nationals with lengthy experience in their specializations to return to their home countries for a short period of time.

In January 2006, building on the favorable policy situation and increasing political stability in Sudan, UNDP launched the Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals project (TOKTEN).

Approach and Objectives: 

• Support national capacity building of Sudanese institutions in various development sectors through the transfer of knowledge of professionals in the Sudanese Diaspora.
• Provide invaluable, efficient, and sustained input into the humanitarian, peace and development efforts to rebuild Sudan, while capitalizing on Sudan’s own human resources. The National TOKTEN project will cover at least 10 states in Sudan.
• Support national capacity building through the transfer of knowledge of expatriate Sudanese volunteers.
• Reduce the impact of the ‘brain-drain’ by utilizing the services of highly-qualified expatriate consultants by inviting them to Sudan for short, medium and long duration visits to ministries, educational/research institutions and the private sector.
• Transfer latest know-how and cutting-edge technology from developed countries to Sudan through Sudanese professionals working in the developed world.
• Pass to the private sector, knowledge on the latest technical methodologies, and business and management practices with the assistance of expatriate consultants.
Contribute to humanitarian, peace and development efforts to rebuild the country, capitalizing on Sudan’s own resources and expertise.


The specific objectives are as follows:


Snapshots of the project's major achievements:

• Recruited 103 volunteers to provide institutional capacity building support for more than 100 government institutions, universities, and private sector organizations in North and South Sudan.
• Trained and built the capacity of more than 3,600 personnel. The trainings covered the following areas: governance and rule of law; HIV/AIDS and the health sector; food security; basic and higher education; public administration and governance; sustainable environmental conservation; and economic development; micro-finance development; geographic information systems; professional media training; and public administration and project management.
Developed a database that more than 370 professional Sudanese expatriates who are willing to join TOKTEN through a mission in Sudan.


Table showing number of personnel who have benefited from TOKTEN training 2006-2011 (taken up to 15-May- 2011)

Thematic Area	Beneficiaries						Total for Thematic Area
	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Governance and Rule of Law	51	60	60	130	-		301
Gender in Development	-	-	-	100	-		100
Sustainable Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation and Management	-	-	30	-	24		54
Business and Sustainable Livelihood and Development	80	40	35	179	54	17	405
Agriculture, Food Security, and Rural Development	40	41	-	25	25		131
Health	155	30	155	-	2	150	492
Education, Training and Research	881	50	47	163	99	50	1290
Total Per Year	1207	221	327	597	204	217	2773