Background

The Origins of TOKTEN:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) introduced TOKTEN in 1977 in Turkey 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 and on voluntarily basis. TOKTEN modality is considered as an efficient development intervention as TOKTEN Experts 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 and 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 on voluntarily basis.

Establishment of TOKTEN in Sudan:
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). Since then and up to date, a highly skilled professional Sudanese Expatriate has been recruited and helped improvement of the capacity of many institutional bodies in 10 states of Sudan.

Objectives: 



Area of Work:

TOKTEN Project works in line with the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the national 5 years strategic development. There are 4 pillars that UNDP programs are folded around:

• Poverty Reduction, Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Livelihoods.
• Inclusive Governance and Rule of Law.
• Social Cohesion, Peace Consolidation and Peace Dividends.
•Environment, Energy, and Natural Resource Management.

TOKTEN has a database of more than 370 professional Sudanese expatriates who are willing to join TOKTEN. For more information please contact us at tokten.sd@undp.org.

Snapshots of the project's major achievements:

• Recruited 126 expert (up to 1st January 2013) 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.
•The following chart shows the thematic areas TOKTEN worked in from 2006 up to 1st January 2013 Developed a database that more than 370 professional Sudanese expatriates who are willing to join TOKTEN through a mission in Sudan.