BACKGROUND OF TOKTEN
Volunteerism behind TOKTEN
Success stories of TOKTEN Volunteers in Afghanistan
TOKTEN UNVs who have served in Afghanistan
Requesting a TOKTEN Volunteer
Recruitment Process
Criteria for Rostering of candidates for TOKTEN Assignments
Current development areas of focus for TOKTEN assignments
Beneficiaries of the TOKTEN Project
How services of TOKTEN Volunteers are utilized
Points of clarification
Application
What is TOKTEN?
(Transfer Of Knowledge Trough Expatriate National)
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) introduced TOKTEN in 1977 to help reduce adverse effects of the “brain-drain” phenomena in many developing countries. TOKTEN offers a window of opportunity for expatriate nationals with lengthy experiences in their fields of specialization to return to their home countries, for an agreed period of time. TOKTEN modality is considered as an efficient development intervention as TOKTEN Volunteers can merge their acquired learning with their familiarity of local culture and language in order to effectively transfer their knowledge and skills.
TOKTEN was first implemented in Turkey in 1977, where the project was originally called “Retransfer of Technology to Turkey ”. TOKTEN has since being expanded to more than 25 countries including , India, Pakistan, China, the Philippines, Poland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Vietnam, Lebanon, Syria, Senegal, Nigeria, Afghanistan among other countries. In these countries, highly skilled expatriate professionals have provided technical expertise, policy advice and research to governments, private and public sectors, universities, and research centres in various fields. In Afghanistan the TOKTEN program was launched by UNDP following the Bonn Peace Agreement in December 2001. During the following 4 1/2 years 29 TOKTEN UNVs completed their 34 assignments in various Ministries/institution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Volunteerism behind TOKTEN:
Assignment under TOKTEN is based on volunteerism, which is based on the values of free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity which are the foundations of volunteerism. Volunteering brings benefit to the individual volunteer. It makes important contributions, economically, as well as socially. It contributes to creating social cohesion and capital, through helping to build trust and reciprocity among citizens. Back to top
Success stories of TOKTEN Volunteers in Afghanistan :
 Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady
Afghanistan 's new currency was introduced and is signed by Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady, a professional banker and professor who returned to his native country and served as a TOKTEN Volunteer .
Mr. Ahady holds a Ph.D. in political science and an MBA in finance and management policy. As governor of the Central Afghanistan Bank Mr.Ahady’s role was to implement a new banking system in the country, currency, legal, structural reforms and computerizing of the banking system as well as personnel development. He was assisted by another TOKTEN volunteer in the role of First Deputy Governor and other 10 National UNVs to implement currency, legal and structural reforms, banking system reform and personnel development.
Maryam Alefi
Another TOKTEN Volunteer, Ms.Maryam Alefi, holds a bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Toronto University and studied International Project Management at Humber College . During her assignment she assisted staff of the Ministry of Women's Affairs with office management, proposal writing, computer training and preparation of reports to donors. "TOKTEN is a great programme to assist in rebuilding a nation through expatriate nationals. It is like a two-way street - you learn and you also teach."
 Dr.Sayed Asker Mousavi
Dr. Mousavi has played a central role in many higher education projects, including the establishment of Bamiyan University and the development of the new Department of Computer Sciences at Herat University.
A Strategic Action plan for the development of higher education in Afghanistan has been developed with the support of Dr Mousavi, in a joint project with IIEP and UNESCO.
Among many other projects, Dr Mousavi has been involved in the drafting of the New Law of Higher
- Education which will be the foundation for nationwide reform of higher education in Afghanistan , as well as a plan for structural reform of the MoHE.
"As a project, TOKTEN is a success amongst many failures, as a personal
experience TOKTEN has provided me with a unique opportunity to serve
Afghanistan . It could not have been better"
Two TOKTEN Volunteers working as Engineers for the Ministry of Housing, Building and Town Planning organized the first International Conference in Kabul “The Future of Kabul City” to plan the expansion of Kabul city. More than two hundred experienced engineers participated in this conference and shared their views. From this Conference the “New Kabul Plan” emerged, providing direction to the urban development needs of Afghanistan ’s capital. Back to top
TOKTEN UNVs who have served in Afghanistan :
Abdullah Ali, Jahed A Hamrah, Mohammad Qaseem Naimi, Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady, Maryam Alefi, Shah Aga Temory, Maryam Mahboob, Abdul Qadeer Fitrat, Sara Asmatey, Wahid Omer, Najib Osmani, Nasir Ahmad Saberi, Nilab Pazhwak, Daud Afzel, Abdul Jabar Sabit, Baryalay Malyar, Fazel Hanif, Malalai Hamidi, Abdullah Breshna, Ahmad Eklil Hakimi, Sajia Sultani , Sayed Asker Mousavi, Kefayatullah Wardak, Mohammad Yunus Yusufzai, Ahmad Rashed Easar, Dr.Mohd Amin Zaman, Mohammad Wali Hakim, Ghulam Garouq Basher and Majed David Jawad, 40% of the TOKTEN UNVs preferred to stay back in Afghanistan and handling the key positions either in the government ministries/institution of other agencies.
HOW DOES TOKTEN WORK?
Requesting a TOKTEN Volunteer:
Government, public institutions, NGOs and UN agencies seeking TOKTEN services are invited to contact the UNV unit in UNDP Country office Kabul Afghanistan :
Shah Mahmood Ghazi Watt, Kabul , Afghanistan ,
Email: UNV.AF@UNDP.ORG
tel: +93 2101685
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Recruitment Process:
Recruitment of TOKTEN volunteers is demand-driven, based on request by Afghanistan Government, institutions and organizations. Hence, recruited expatriate professionals will be placed in various institutions to share their skills and expertise for a short period of time (from 1 week to 3 months) in various development areas. However, there is flexibility for longer assignment duration or contract extension up to a maximum of three months of TOKTEN assignment based on mutual agreement between TOKTEN Volunteer and TOKTEN Project.
TOKTEN Consultants are considered Volunteers. UNDP/UNV will cover travel expenses to and from the participant's country of residence, and provide living allowance in Afghanistan .
Motivated, highly creative, and experienced candidates, who meet the recruitment criteri a, are invited to complete Application Form (click to download and save it) to be included in TOKTEN Afghanistan Roster.
Criteria for Rostering of candidates for TOKTEN Assignments:
Any Afghanistan national or a person of Afghan origin living abroad, must meet the following criteria to be eligible for rostering as a TOKTEN Volunteer in Afghanistan :
- University degree (Bachelor or higher degree)
- Minimum five years of relevant working experience in a professional area
- At least 25 years of age (there is no upper age limit)
- Good working knowledge of English. Knowledge of local languages would be an asset
- Ability to work in partnerships and adjust to difficult living conditions
- Genuine interest and commitment to rebuilding Afghanistan , and willingness to share skills and knowledge
- Documentary evidence of living abroad, Afghanistan origin with permanent resident status or nationality of another country apart from Afghanistan .
The criteria above represent the minimum requirements for rostering of TOKTEN candidates. Inclusion in TOKTEN database as a candidate does not guarantee that the applicant will eventually engage in a mission. The applicant will be contacted only if an appropriate opportunity arises.
The criteria for selection of candidates for TOKTEN assignment will depend on the requirements specified by requesting organizations and institutions for different assignments. Back to top
Current development areas of focus for TOKTEN assignments:
The deployment of TOKTEN Volunteers will focus on the following priority development areas indicated in the project document at the time of signing of the document:
- Rural Development
- Education
- Health
- Agriculture & Natural Resources
- Good Governance
- Gender
However, other areas of development may be considered by the project management (UNDP and counterparts) if considered as development priorities. Defining priorities for TOKTEN volunteers’ services is considered very important for the efficiency and success of the project.
Beneficiaries of the TOKTEN Project:
The following Afghanistan institutions will benefit, as host organizations for deployment of TOKTEN Volunteers:
- Ministries and key administration/institutions at the central, provincial, and local levels
- Universities
- Research organizations
- Agencies
- Private sector
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How services of TOKTEN Volunteers are utilized:
Assignments of TOKTEN Volunteers will be directed mainly at capacity building, and gap-filling roles will be avoided. In this respect, the functions of TOKTEN Volunteers should be mainly concerned with capacity building for national counterpart/s and host organizations through the following activities:
· Instructing: To deliver specialized lectures, conduct seminars / workshops / symposia and training courses.
· Research & Development: Initiating a research activity, participating in an ongoing research project or developing projects. This will include training of national counterparts in projects.
· Practical/Action Project: Realization of a practical project, such as establishing a laboratory, setting up a production line or selecting and installing equipments, etc.
· Advisory Service: To make recommendations on policy issues and technical matters and on implementation of top priority sector programmes. Back to top
Points of clarification:
TOKTEN Project is neither a Repatriation Programme nor an Employment Scheme.
TOKTEN Volunteers take on their assignments not as an employment opportunity but as a service. They volunteer to provide their skills/experiences to their home-country for a short and limited period of time. In other words, joining TOKTEN Project is not a career move.
There is no commitment whatsoever to permanent return to the country of origin for TOKTEN Volunteers. However, repeated missions, by TOKTEN Volunteer to the country of origin to enhance the sustainability of the TOKTEN Project are possible.
TOKTEN Volunteers are regarded as international consultants providing voluntary service for their home country .
TOKTEN Project supports TOKTEN Volunteers with specified allowances (International travel fare; living allowance; and support for medical and life insurance) which areNOT considered as salaries.
Application:
Please, click here to download the application form in Word format, and kindly return the completed application form in Word format to the e-mail address: UNV.AF@undp.org
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CONTACT:
Bashir Ahmadi
TOKTEN Program officer
UNDP Office
Kabul-Afghanistan
Bashir.ahmadi@undp.org or UNV.AF@undp.org
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