by Michael Massaquoi

29 May 2012

Wau, Western Bahr El Ghazal State, South Sudan: The role of a UNV Civil Affairs Officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is not limited to report writing or conflict analysis within the four walls of an office.  It goes further than that. 

My typical day starts with a visit to the State Legislative Assembly here in Wau, Western Bahr El Ghazal State. I meet with the State Government to discuss security issues with respect to the border dispute and the humanitarian crisis.

We also discuss governance with regard to the devolution of power, the role of women, the relationship between the Executive and Legislative and the role of the anti-Corruption Commission.

We explore these issues to identify areas for support as part of capacity building and we share the information with appropriate agencies for action and reporting purposes.

Some days, I am out and about in the community to assess the economy’s trend by collecting data on the price of essential commodities in the local market in both Wau and Raja.

Other times, you will find me in the chopper together with Military Liaison Officers. We regularly reach out to the local communities in the rural areas and, where appropriate, team up with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army for a day long monitoring patrol.

These routine visits give me the opportunity to carry out independent assessments of the security and humanitarian situation of communities which find themselves alongside the disputed border towns of Kafia Kingi, Balbala and Tim Saha, north of Raja.  The findings of my assessments form part of daily, weekly and monthly reports submitted to Juba.

Often, I engage with civil society groups which include women, traders and youths to provide them support towards capacity building. The support could be input to the drafting of a project proposal for funding of a community project.

On a periodic basis, I also facilitate the wider participation of the local community in conflict mitigation initiatives, including land disputes and passive threats from grazing nomadic tribes and unemployed youths.  

Daily engagement with local communities, to deal with critical issues ranging from socio-economics to security and governance, is inspirational and often gives me the courage to do more.

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BIO
Michael Massaquoi, from Sierra Leone, is a UNV Civil Affairs Officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) posted in Wau, Western Bahr El Ghazal State.