A technician from Opibus test the lighting system on an electric motorcycle at their warehouse in Nairobi, Kenya in February 2022. This Kenyan-Swedish company has been producing different electric vehicles including motorbikes and 4x4s used by safari companies. 
Photo Credit: Patrick Meinhardt/AFP via Getty Images

Building usable knowledge pipelines between diaspora and local systems

People often talk about the movement of skilled Africans abroad as a “brain drain,” but this view misses how diaspora professionals can still help their home countries without moving back. The key is not just being present, but making sure knowledge and skills fit local needs. When expertise is shaped to match the realities of African institutions, diaspora involvement can support, not replace, the work of local professionals and teams.

Africans living abroad offer important perspectives, networks, and specialised skills, but expertise by itself is not always enough. What works in well-resourced or highly organised settings often does not fit local situations. Gaps in infrastructure, informal ways of working, and limited resources can make it hard to put good ideas into practice. To address this, diaspora and local groups should work together to create solutions, valuing local professionals’ practical knowledge as much as technical skills from abroad.

Translating knowledge into real-world African solutions
Here, translation means more than just changing language. It is about making knowledge practical, useful, and right for the local context. Health guidelines, educational resources, or technology from other places need to be adapted to fit local needs. This often means changing methods to match available infrastructure, making instructions simple enough for local teams, and making sure advice fits local decision-making. When people work together on this, it helps local institutions use new knowledge and get real results.

Diaspora professionals can help their home countries in many practical ways without moving back for good. They can mentor or coach local teams from afar, review policies or technical plans, and help create manuals or toolkits that fit local needs. Short visits can offer hands-on support and build skills, while overseas networks can link local groups to international resources, funding, or partnerships. It is just as important to value the skills and creativity already found in local teams, since their experience often makes projects work and last.

Bridging the knowledge gap
To build strong knowledge pipelines, institutions need clear systems and a shared understanding. Central hubs or online platforms can help people communicate and work together, but they should partner with local teams to stay useful and relevant. Incentives and recognition can motivate diaspora involvement, but it is most important to match skills with local needs. When both local limits and diaspora strengths are respected, sharing knowledge can become a lasting and growing process, not just a one-time effort.

In the end, Africa’s development does not depend on getting all skilled people to come back home. What matters is making expertise easy to access, useful, and ready to put into action. When technical knowledge is carefully adapted, it can make local systems stronger, build trust, and lead to real results. By bringing together the ideas of diaspora professionals and the hands-on experience of local teams, Africa can build knowledge pipelines that work in real life, making sure talent everywhere helps drive progress.