TURNING THE TIDE OF AFRICA’S BRAIN DRAIN IS UP TO US
Brain drain is an issue that developing countries around the world continue to struggle with, and Africa is no exception. Many young Africans leave the continent to study in Europe or the United States and do not return, instead opting to build new lives in the developed countries where they earned their qualifications. Some already educated and highly skilled workers leave Africa for several reasons, including search for higher income, better life, future life opportunities and safety. According to a US Census Bureau report in 2010, African immigrants in the USA had the highest educational level among all immigrants, regardless of their citizenship and race.
How to reverse the tide and encourage talented Africans back to Africa is a challenge only Africans themselves can take. We must create platforms that nurture and allow talent to thrive, be it in business or the public sector. As former U.S. President Obama said on his visit to South Africa in 2018, Africans should be encouraged to drive change at home rather than emigrating:
“If we have African leaders, governments and institutions which are creating a platform for success and opportunity, then you will increasingly get more talent wanting to stay.”
According to a 2014 World Bank report, the number of African migrants doubled between 1980 and 2010 reaching more than 30 million people. However, not all of these migrants leave the continent. It is true that many leave to find new lives in Europe, North America, the Middle East and elsewhere, but around half stay in Africa, choosing to move to better-off countries like South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire. In 2016, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was predicting that the number of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa living in OECD countries would grow to 34 million people by 2050, from around 7 million in 2013. According to the IMF “the migration of young and educated workers takes a large toll on a region whose human capital is already scarce.” Brain drain is clearly a threat to the continent’s future prosperity.
Why should African talent return to Africa? Despite the above immigration trends, for the bold and creative, Africa presents a significant economic opportunity. Against the backdrop of fast-developing economies (e.g. Ethiopia, Rwanda and Cote d’Ivoire), improving business climate and governance, growing entrepreneurship culture, developing IT infrastructure, and greater governmen’ focus on job creation, the time has never been more opportune for skilled Africans to return home to explore opportunities and develop their talent. In addition, while industrialized countries are mature markets, opportunities are limitless in the nascent African markets for all kinds of products, thus offering attractive growth prospects both domestically and at export. Furthermore, particularly among the young Africans and diaspora members, there is a growing sense of “African-ness” which is a mix of identity pride, self-confidence and the unshakable belief in Africa’s future.
Between now and 2050, Africa’s population is expected to double, by some projections. This means that every two in five people born in the world will be African. The populations living in Africa’s urban centres is also expected to triple by 2050. While this rapid population growth brings with it many challenges for Africa, it will also significantly increase demand for new products and services. Africans are more and more aware of those opportunities, as demonstrated by the fact that in 2019 Africa-focussed start-up funding exceeded USD 1 billion for the first time and more and more African businesses raise funding outside the continent.
But reversing the brain drain requires a few preconditions including security, political stability (mitigating country risks), business-friendly environments (protecting private assets; tax incentives; fair legal system; funding opportunities…), improved governance (fight against corruption), research facilities (particularly for highly skilled scholars), decent pay, and effective infrastructure (IT, power, transportation, energy…). Here, the onus is clearly on African leaders.
