Return migration, where nationals return home after experiencing life abroad, has contributed greatly to development in India and Latin America. Now many hope a similar “reverse brain drain” will serve as an economic and social driver in Africa and throughout the developing world.

The potential for return migration to transform a nation will be explored in this year’s edition of the Geneva Challenge, an international contest for teams of master students which aims to stimulate reflection and innovation on advancing the Millennium Development Goals. The Challenge was launched thanks to the vision and generosity of Swiss Ambassador Jenö Staehelin, and is supported by the patronage of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
 

The Geneva Challenge solicits projects that rigorously analyse the issues at stake and which put forward innovative and concrete proposals to effect change. This year, the challenge is to explore how return migration can contribute to social or economic development. There were 45 innovative project entries submitted by teams of master students from around the world, and 12 proposals were selected by the Academic Steering Committee as semi-finalists – you can read about them here.

After deliberation on the short listed proposals, our external Jury Panel of policy makers and academics has chosen three finalists, who will be revealed shortly. The Challenge will culminate in a special event at the Graduate Institute on 12 October, where the three finalists will present and defend their projects in front of a live audience. The winning team will be announced at 18:30 at an event featuring Ambassador William Lacy Swing, Director General of the International Organization for Migration.

The topic for the 2016 contest will be announced during the award ceremony.