Highly skilled temporary return, technological change and Innovation: The Case of the TRQN Project in Afghanistan

Using the specific case of the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Temporary Return of Qualified Nationals (TRQN) project, this paper illustrates the effect the short-term return of highly qualified migrants abroad can have on capacity building in the origin country through knowledge transfer, innovation and technological change. The paper specifically examines the needs, expectations and delivery of knowledge through the TRQN project in Afghanistan.

Key words: migration, return migration, innovation, technological change, migration and development, Afghanistan

JEL codes: Y, Z