Open Access Article

Title: Diaspora and development: lessons from Somaliland

Authors: Matthew MacGregor, Fawzia Yusuf H. Adam, Saad Ali Shire

Addresses: The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, 160 Packard Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts 02155-7082, USA. ' The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, 160 Packard Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts 02155-7082, USA. ' The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, 160 Packard Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts 02155-7082, USA

Abstract: The success of the University of Hargeisa in Somaliland demonstrates how the flow of skilled migrants from the developing to the developed world – once viewed merely as brain |drain| – may in fact be more accurately described as an imperfect circular flow of skilled workers, knowledge, finance, and development. The skilled Diaspora can invoke its capabilities, networks, and access to financial resources to catalyse economic development in the home country. In Somaliland, these factors culminated in the creation of a knowledge-based institution that has the potential to substantially contribute to the development of local human capital.

Keywords: skilled diaspora; economic development; brain drain; brain gain; migration; Somaliland; University of Hargeisa; migrant associations; remittances; economic development; knowledge transfer; skilled migrants; knowledge base; local human capital.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTG.2008.020329

International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, 2008 Vol.4 No.3, pp.238 - 255

Published online: 16 Sep 2008 *