Transfer of knowledge through expatriates nationals (TOKTEN) as a gender sensitive development assistance modality in patriarchal societies: An example from Kassala State, Eastern Sudan

Transfer of knowledge through expatriate nationals (TOKTEN) initiative is a UNDP technical assistance modality that aims at human resource capacity building in countries that suffer from brain-drain. One of the main constraints that impede maximum contribution of human resource development programs towards sustainable development is lack of gender-sensitivity. TOKTEN initiative is believed to overcome this constraint. Thus, this paper will examine this thesis in the Sudanese setting. Data were collected from 46 trainees who attended a training workshop arranged through TOKTEN initiative. t-Test was used to examine the difference in the level of knowledge of the male and female trainees about the different concepts and topics under consideration before and after the workshop. The study results reflected a significant improvement in the trainees’ level of knowledge with no significant difference between the mean level of knowledge of the male and female trainees. Thus, the main advantage of TOKTEN initiative is its’ capability to build human resource capacity in patriarchal societies without inducing gender disparity. Consequently, TOKTEN initiative should be promoted and expanded particularly in resource poor and patriarchal societies.