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:
Following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the overall social and political environment has changed and opened an unprecedented window of opportunity to turn the devastation of years of war, displacement and under-development into a new era of peace and prosperity in Sudan. However, a large number of the qualified and experienced human resources of Sudan that could contribute to the recovery and development process in Sudan live outside the country. Studies conducted by different agencies on the expatriate Sudanese nationals living abroad have indicated that a large number of highly talented and experienced expatriate nationals are willing to contribute to the reconstruction and peace-building initiatives in their home country.

The Government of National Unity (GoNU), and the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) are encouraging Sudanese expatriates to volunteer their professional experience to national and state institutions. Each government has human resources capacity building policies that encourage the involvement of the Diasporas in their recovery and development efforts.

In January 2006, building on the favourable policy situation and the increasing political stability in Sudan, with the support of the Netherlands Government and the UK’s Department for International Development, UNDP launched the Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals project, widely known as the TOKTEN. This initiative is a special volunteer programme that calls on expatriate nationals to volunteer in their country of origin for a short period of time.

Objectives
The main objective of the TOKTEN project in Sudan is to support the national capacity building of Sudanese institutions in various development sectors, through the transfer of knowledge of the professional Sudanese in the Diasporas. Thus contributing with an invaluable, efficient, and sustained input to the humanitarian, peace and development efforts to rebuild Sudan, while capitalizing on Sudan’s owns human resources. The National TOKTEN project will cover at least 10 states in Sudan.

The specific objectives are as follows:
• To support national capacity building through the transfer of knowledge of expatriate Sudanese volunteers.
• To reduce the impact of ‘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.
• To transfer latest know-how and cutting-edge technology from the developed countries to Sudan through Sudanese professionals working in the developed world.
• To pass to the private sector, knowledge on the latest technical methodologies, and business and management practices with the assistance of expatriate consultants.
• To contribute to humanitarian, peace and development efforts to rebuild the country; capitalizing on Sudan’s own resources and expertise.

Snapshots of the project's major achievements
• Recruited 37 TOKTEN volunteers to provide institutional capacity building support for more than 72 government institutions, and universities in Northern and Southern Sudan;
• Directly supported 30 national and state government institutions, universities and research institutions, private sector organizations, and NGOs in Northern and Southern Sudan;
• The project trained and built the capacity of 1,478 personnel from 58 national and state government institutions, universities and research institutions, private sector organizations, and NGOs across Sudan. The trainings covered the following areas: governance and rule of law; HIV/AIDS and health sector; food security; higher and basic education; public administration and governance; sustainable environmental conservation; and economic development; micro finance development; geographic information system; media professional training; and public administration and project management;
• Developed a database that counts 343 professional Sudanese expatriates who are willing to join TOKTEN through a mission in Sudan.