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.
Approach
and Objectives:
The approach
of TOKTEN project could be summarized
into the following points:
Demand driven with institution
focus: this means institutions
make requests for TOKTEN consultants
after clearly identifying their capacity
development needs.
First-come, first-serve:
to avoid the tendency for regional
allocation of services the project
would handle requests as they are
received. Being mindful of regional
differentials the project intensifies
its advocacy in those regions lagging
behind with the view of making them
more pro-active.
Knowledge transfer, not gap
filling: TOKTEN consultants
do not cover for staff shortage as
that would be inappropriate use of
their highly technical talents. Indeed
having staff on the job is an essential
condition for deploying a TOKTEN consultant
to an institution.
Neither a return
nor a re-settlement programme: The
project is well aware of the agencies
working in the field of return and
resettlement. It is therefore, not
a TOKTEN comparative advantage to
engage in return or resettlement.
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 from 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
and expertise, including the achievement
of Millennium Development Goals MDGs.
The National TOKTEN project was planned
cover at least 10 states in Sudan
during its first life span –
2007 to 2010. However, upon recognition
by the government that TOKTEN is strategic
to Sudan human resource development;
the project has been included in the
new CPAP for the period 2009 to 2012.
The specific
objectives are as follows:
Snapshots of the project's major achievements:
• Recruited
59
( up to 15 - May - 2011) volunteers
to provide institutional capacity
building support for more than
90
government institutions, universities,
and private sectors in Northern and
Southern Sudan;
• Directly supported
50
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
2,773
personnel from 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;
basic and higher 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
includes over
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 |
