Reverse Brain Drain: Afghan-American Diaspora in Post-Conflict Peacebuilding & Reconstruction

- from the abstract

The loss of human resources that Afghanistan experienced following the Soviet invasion of 1979 is often referred to as the 'brain drain'. This paper postulates that a similar but 'reverse brain drain' is currently in progress as former Afghan nationals return to the country in droves to assist in the rebuilding of Afghanistan. While remaining aware of risks and challenges, the potential for building civil society and the private sector is at its peak. This thesis is examined within the context of Afghan culture, opportunities for personal and professional growth in the United States for the diaspora, and how these positive externalities can be harnessed to bring maximum value-added to the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Individual and group behavior are as important an element of peacebuilding as are education or skills level, and by behaving professionally and collectively, the Afghan-American diaspora can best influence reconstruction policy and implementation in Afghanistan...

- from Part II, Mechanisms to engage diaspora

Mechanisms to engage the Afghan diaspora in policy planning and implementation extend beyond the actual employment of Afghan-Americans in the transitional government of Afghanistan , or in the multilateral, bilateral, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are involved in reconstruction. There are a number of contributions that members of the diaspora have made in influencing policy planning and implementation outside of formal structures of employment, but the focus should be on crucial behaviors that benefit the community as a whole, such as:

1. Advocacy - changing behaviors in the community, teaching by example, letting others take credit for work, pushing the concept that there is plenty of money available for all of our work, inspiring by example (e.g., Seema Ghani)
2. Building tolerance - organizing informal dinners and social events, creation of civic groups brought together disparate members of the Afghan diaspora (ethnically and religiously), via community work that has a common goal that no one can argue with, e.g., clothing drives, fundraisers.
3. Sharing knowledge and networking, particularly by email.
4. Professionalism in all communications and activities.

These behaviors lead to the kind of lasting change in Afghan society that can overcome the darkness and nepotism of the past that have kept us behind the rest of the world for so long. One example is the article written by Dr. Ashraf Ghani, then Lead Anthropologist at the World Bank, in October, 2001 in the Wall Street Journal decrying the plans to 'bomb Afghanistan back to the stone age'. Dr. Ghani risked a valuable and high level position at the World Bank when he chose to make this personal statement, and he did indeed have to resign from the World Bank, but his courage and personal conviction were inspiring to a generation of Afghan-Americans who learned the value of speaking out for what you believe in. Dr. Ghani is currently Minister of Finance for the transitional government of Afghanistan.

Next, a healthy and vibrant civil society is essential to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and this is where the diaspora can make the most sustained contribution. Since the majority of Afghans living inside the country have spent the last 24 years in a climate of war, natural disasters, and lawlessness, the very institutions that are necessary for civil society to evolve, a free media, a democratically elected government, and rule of law, have not existed. For Afghan-Americans, who take those foundations as their God-given rights, nurturing the establishment of civil society can take many forms...

Please contact Homira G. Nassery, Health Specialist for a copy of this paper in full. homira@scpm.isb.sdnpk.org or Hnassery@worldbank.org