Since my last entry, I have not had a lot of time for sightseeing. It has been work work work to get the program off and running. Lots of paperwork to file to qualify as an organization authorized to operate on Sudanese soil. The authorities has a special office dedicated solely to the management of all the international and national nongovernmental organizations operating in Sudan called the Humanitarian Authorization Commission or HAC. The HAC has put into place an extremely cumbersome series of rules and procedures to regulate everything international NGOs or INGOs do in this country. For instance, how long an INGO can advertise a position and where. HAC officials will inspect the list of candidates and administer their own tests to determine if they are truly qualified and participate in the final decision-making process that determine who your organization will hire.
INGOs must file reports on their activities and accomplishments, explain whether they have departed from their initial plan, and present qualitative or quantitative proof that they have reached their goals. HAC has also required INGOs to reapply for an operating license every year in January, so every year, non-Sudanese staff members are forced to leave their posts and wait in the capital Khartoum until their license is renewed. The process can take as long a month or be over in a matter of days. It all depends of your ability as an organization to follow-up on the paper pushers and have all the forms prepared well in advance.
I applaud the government of Sudan for its efforts or I would, if.....
I was very surprised to see this level of attention from authorities about the work of INGOs. My experience elsewhere in Africa has been that governments could care less about the fate of their citizens let alone the efforts INGOs are making to assist them. If these rules and close scrutiny are meant to ensure that Sudanese citizens are getting the best possible organizations to help them emerge from the current crisis, then I applaud the government of Sudan for its efforts.
For full disclosure, I should point out that some (read many) do not see this "special"attention in such a positive light and believe that the rules and bureaucracy are actually meant to slow down the effectiveness of INGOs and place additional constraints on their ability to operate in the areas of conflict where foreigners (read "witnesses") are not welcome. The same criticism is extended to the rebel groups who also place restrictions on the access of INGOs to cities and villages in areas not under government control.
Not to play devil's advocate (OK, yes, I will), but wouldn't you want your government to have this level of scrutiny if your city or state had over one hundred INGOs from every country imaginable on a mission to save you, your schools, hospitals, farms, children, women, youth, and businesses? I know that the chosen system of accounting here acts more as a hindrance to the operations of INGOs than a facilitation of relief assistance, but I think a middle way is definitely necessary. In fact I think governments should be required to assess and facilitate actively any relief operation, so that they can be directly associated with the recovery of their nation.
What would have happened?
What would have happened had 40 Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Irish, French, British, Swiss, Australian, Cuban, and Senegalese INGOs flown into New Orleans during the Katrina calamity and rescued all the people, built new housing, provided medical assistance, psycho-social counseling, organized truth and reconciliation commissions to bring unresponsive government agencies to account, and invoked the international criminal court to investigate violation of international humanitarian law? Okay, yes. It would have been great for the people of New Orleans. I know. But think about whether people would feel that they could trust their government to come to their assistance when it was all over.
No.
Confidence in government tends to drop to an all-time low during a major humanitarian operation and that only decreases further the chances for a constructive and inclusive reconstruction period in the post conflict period -- if there is a post-conflict period.
Does that mean that HAC is my new hero? The piles of forms in quadruplicate originals, and quickly developing cramps in my left hand say, eh, no. Not really. Particularly since, for all the surveillance and bureaucracy, there does not seem to be much more than passive interest in whether conditions are actually improving. Now I have only been here for a short while, so I will let you know if my opinion on this point changes. But at this stage, I highly doubt it.
A little cultural note to quench your thirst
I will end today's entry with a little cultural note about something you can see everywhere on the streets of Sudan and (or so I am told) in much of the Middle East - free water!!! The stories vary greatly as to why, but many people place ceramic jugs in front of their houses to offer to the public. In some cases, a sign explains that the water is in honor of a relative who has died and those who drink are invited to say a prayer. In other cases, just the act of offering water to the thirsty is a positive karma-building machine. Ceramic pots have micro pores that evaporate tiny amounts of moisture and keep the contents very cool. Imagine 50 degree water in 120 degree heat, and you get the idea. Now, if they would only come up with a ceramic refrigerator, we would reduce our carbon footprint immensely.
Now back to those forms.....
Now back to those forms.....
1 comment:
Actually, thousands of "outsiders" did descend on New Orleans post-Katrina....all here to save the children, save the music, save the food and in general to "fight the power." New Orleans has become the 21st century Civil Rights destination. However, instead of young northern African Americans and white Americans going down south for freedom rides, we have seen an influx of "grunge" (white) youth. They are on the front-lines of any protest in the city; willing, cynics would say even eager, to be arrested.
I, like perhaps many native New Orleanians, have mixed feelings about these kids. I'm glad they cared enough to come. I'm grateful for the good work that many are doing. However, in general, I am wary of saviours ....sentiments that are perhaps shared by Darfurians.
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