What can the African diaspora contribute to innovation and knowledge creation? The case study of Zimbabwean innovators

Abstract

The importance of diaspora and transnational knowledge production, innovation, and development is of growing interest, particularly in the developing world. The phenomenal increase in high human capital migration from poor to rich countries has historically led to what is commonly known as brain drain, which has negatively impacted the capacity of such countries to innovate. Yet more recently the emergence of the phenomenon of transnationalism has demonstrated the potential to transform brain drain into brain circulation, for the mutual benefit of both sending and receiving contexts. This article uses the case of Zimbabwe to explore the role of diasporan professionals, scholars, and entrepreneurs in contributing to knowledge production, innovation, and development initiatives in their countries of origin. Zimbabwe is an example of many African countries that have experienced substantial attrition of highly qualified knowledge workers for various reasons. A qualitative approach, involving interviews and documentary evidence, enabled the researchers to engage with the Zimbabwean diaspora to capture their narratives regarding the challenges and opportunities, which were then used to develop successful transnational knowledge production initiatives.

Repositioning of Africa in knowledge production: shaking off historical stigmas � introduction

“…The first contribution in this section of the issue, on 'What Can the African Diaspora Contribute to Innovation and Knowledge Creation?' by Thondhlana et al (2021), echoes calls for engaging diasporas in sustainable development of economies in the developing world through the production of knowledge and knowledge economies (Leung 2015). It recognises the more recent emergence of transnationalism as a new form of migration which has evidenced capacity to turn a brain drain pattern of subtractive migration into brain circulation for the mutual benefit of both countries of origin and host countries, in a context of the global war of talent where host Global North countries have been strategically positioned to benefit from the 'best and brightest' of the Global South.…”

The Politics of Knowledge Production: Training and Practice of Archaeological Science in Africa

“…There is a need to build an intra-African network of archaeometallurgists that can fundraise for the development of basic research infrastructure in Africa. African scholars, resident and the diaspora, can do more to mobilize resources to further build research capacity (see Thondhlana, et al, 2021 ). Africans in the diaspora can contribute to sourcing and establishing basic research infrastructure.…”