The Eritrean HRD Project (1998-2005): A critical assessment of its high rate of brain drain

This study critically analyses the 'Eritrean HRD Project' (EHRDP), a major workforce development project that was implemented in this eastern African country between 1998 and 2005. In this project, 674 Eritrean nationals were sent overseas to pursue higher education in various fields. The findings of the study indicate that 431 or 64% of the project trainees did not return home after graduating. To gain some insights into why this turned out to be the case, the study analysed the perceptions of the 'abscondee-graduates'. The study presents some policy implications of the brain drain as well as suggests frontiers for future research.