3 African Brain Drain And Gain, Diaspora And Remittances: More Rhetoric Than Action

This chapter surveys symptomatic instances of the stock and flows of each member of the 'migration quartet'-namely brain drain/brain gain, the diaspora, remittances, and return. It considers how African countries of emigration could manipulate these four issues in their development agenda through appropriate actions. Among the issues that need to be analysed are the lack of bilateral agreements between the countries of origin and the countries of destination. The inability of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) to move beyond rhetoric to sponsoring tangible activities to ensure a positive contribution regarding the African brain drain and gain, and the roles of the diaspora and remittances in the region's development. The chapter concludes that the onus is on the African countries to prescribe viable solutions for the region- rather than depending on the countries of the North and international organisations, and the aggressive encroachment of the emerging Asian economic powerhouses. Keywords:African brain drain; African brain gain; bilateral agreement; diaspora; emigration; New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD); remittances