Brain linkage for good governance: the need for Guatemalan diaspora expertise

The Guatemalan scientific and professional diaspora (GSPD) is composed of highly educated Guatemalans who have established their residence abroad, are engaged in professional activities in their host country, and have active links with their country of origin. As a group, they represent an undervalued and publicly unrecognized asset for strengthening public governance and institutional performance in their home country. The existing public administration in Guatemala has been historically undermined by poor governance, corruption, and influential vested interest groups that have systematically hindered the development of a robust public sector. The lack of qualified human resources fuels poor government performance. On the one hand, government employment systems are dysfunctional and underdeveloped. On the other hand, there is insufficient and inadequate local expertise, which is difficult to hire in the public administration due to low salaries, unstable labor conditions, and hostile working environments. Furthermore, the underdevelopment of the local higher education system and chronically low investment in education have further resulted in an inadequate supply of highly educated workers. Yet, a Guatemalan scientific and professional diaspora numbering in the thousands is already making available its expertise to its home country, although dispersed and uncoordinated. Recognizing, engaging, and coordinating these highly skilled Guatemalans in the diaspora can significantly improve governance and institutional performance at both national and local levels. In this Perspective, the authors reflect on this intersection, drawing from their first-hand experience as members of the GSPD and as practitioners within public institutions.