Migration has existed as long as humanity and plays a role in the political, economic and cultural evolution of societies. Cheap and accessible transportation and the process of "globalization" have increased the emphasis placed on ways in which the development process affects and is affected by these movements. .

Handled in a controlled and planned manner, migration is certainly beneficial for migrants, as well as for receiving and sending countries. Yet, just as migration comes in different forms, its effects on development tend to be positive for certain regions and groups of migrants, while constituting a great loss for others.

Photograph: Migrant workers in Switzerland. Migration of workers has come to the forefront of economic, social and demographic preoccupations in developed countries, with characteristics of this phenomenon constantly changing. Global instruments, particularly those adopted by the International Labour Conference, provide critical safeguards to protect migrant workers.

Certainly there is little disagreement in the fact that immigration was instrumental to the rapid development of countries in North America, Oceania and elsewhere, through the important transfer of skills and cultural enrichment it brings. While most migration occurs internally or between neighbouring countries, inter-State movements from developing States to developed countries have gained attention over the past years. Developing countries exporting migrant labour gain from remittances their nationals send home, thus assisting in their own country's development. The Earth Times (June-July 1995) pointed out that half of remittances worldwide, estimated to reach $65 billion every year, end up in developing countries. Though public perception on the issue varies, it is generally agreed that migrants participating in the work market also expand the receiving country's economy by providing needed human resources.

However, there are many inconsistencies in the distribution of development due to these types of migratory movements. One persistent example is the "brain drain"—the migration of professionals and highly skilled workers from developing countries to developed ones—often causing losses that are more significant to long-term, sustainable development than the gains from remittances.

Numerous countries have suffered from this phenomenon for several decades, with their qualified professionals attracted by better conditions elsewhere. Skilled human resources play a vital role in the effective management of strategies for a sustained development, and development in many countries is greatly slowed by shortages and imbalances of skilled personnel. The brain drain deprives many developing countries of their qualified personnel, whose education and training were often a considerable expense to their country of origin. The African continent is full of "sending countries" providing "brains" to the developed world. The continuing depletion of professionals from the continent is indeed a crippling loss. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) figures, an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 middle- and high-level African professionals left their African States between 1986 and 1990. While significant in and of itself, it is more worrying, considering that some 100,000 foreign experts from developed countries are currently employed in Africa. Among the world's developing regions, several sub-Saharan countries suffer the effects of having one of the weakest human resource bases. Similar movements are also having a major impact in many economies in transition, including Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. With the opening of its former borders, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) migrants are now emigrating to non-CIS countries in growing numbers. Although emigration to non-CIS countries has retained a strong ethnic character, a recent IOM study has shown that the brain drain is also becoming a serious concern in the region.

The world community, especially developing countries, must work to strengthen their capacities to encourage patterns of voluntary migration in the interests of their development, including not only an exchange of skilled people between developing countries, but also a system that fosters the return of a country's indigenous talent and experience.

It is precisely in this area that more can be done to use migration as a tool for development. In order to alleviate the problem caused by the brain drain in Latin America, "Migration for Development" programmes under which highly qualified migrants are recruited for placement in the sub-region were launched in 1964. Ten years later, IOM also started the "Return of Talent Programme" under which qualified Latin Americans were assisted in their return and socioeconomic reintegration in their countries or regions of origin and, in 1983, the programme was extended to Africa. Since the launch of the programme, IOM has assisted more than 1,500 African nationals to return and take up key positions within the public, para-statal and private sectors.

To most effectively promote development, migration and development policies should be linked to ensure that, in the long-term, staying in their home countries is a viable and attractive option for potential migrants. In the meantime, it is increasingly clear that without the implementation of measures effectively addressing the brain drain from Africa and other regions, long-term sustained development is unlikely to succeed in the areas where it is most needed. Countries targeted by programmes aiming at reversing the brain drain are still relatively few. As far as the return of talent is concerned, the number of countries interested in "corrective or positive" inter-State migrations should be increased. The world community, especially developing countries, must work to strengthen their capacities to encourage patterns of voluntary migration in the interests of their development, including not only an exchange of skilled people between developing countries, but also a system that fosters the return of a country's indigenous talent and experience.

About the Author:Peter Schatzer is the Director of External Relations at the International Organization for Migration (IOM).