Mogadishu, Somalia – For more than two decades, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been at the forefront of a quiet but transformative effort in Somalia: reversing the country’s long-running brain drain by connecting skilled diaspora professionals with critical national institutions.
The programme, which began in the early 2000s, was designed in response to the devastating exodus of Somalia’s skilled workforce during years of conflict. Doctors, engineers, academics, and public administrators left in large numbers, leaving the country with a crippling shortage of expertise. Recognizing this gap, IOM launched the initiative to help rebuild state capacity and essential services by encouraging members of the Somali diaspora to return—temporarily or permanently—and transfer knowledge to their homeland.
Through the scheme, thousands of professionals from Europe, North America, the Middle East, and across Africa have been deployed to ministries, universities, and public institutions across Somalia. Their contributions have ranged from modernizing financial systems and developing public health strategies to supporting higher education and governance reforms. Many have also trained local counterparts, ensuring that skills and expertise remain in the country after their contracts end.
Over time, the programme has expanded in scope. Initially focused on providing short-term technical assistance, it has grown into a broad initiative supporting institutional development, mentorship, and innovation. In recent years, it has become closely aligned with Somalia’s state-building agenda, particularly in areas such as fiscal reform, education, justice, and health service delivery.
IOM officials stress that the effort is not simply about “filling gaps” but about building resilience and ownership.
A statement from IOM Somalia shows that the organization has successfully helped Somalia harness the strength of its diaspora to drive sustainable development. It added that the programme is not just about bringing people back but is about transferring knowledge, strengthening systems, and ensuring continuity for future generations.
The programme has been credited with bolstering critical reforms, including the establishment of modern revenue collection systems and the strengthening of Somalia’s higher education sector. It has also played a vital role in improving access to medical expertise, particularly in specialized fields where Somalia still struggles to train enough professionals domestically.
Somalia remains one of the countries most affected by brain drain in Africa, but the impact of IOM’s two-decade-long initiative is increasingly visible. By leveraging the expertise of its global diaspora, the country is gradually building the human capital needed to strengthen governance, improve services, and create opportunities for the next generation at home.
