A large share of humanitarian vacancies in Africa are in conflict or insecure settings: the central Sahel, the Lake Chad basin, the Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan, eastern DR Congo, Somalia. Before accepting a post, a few points deserve your attention.
Duty station hardship classification
The United Nations classifies duty stations by difficulty, from H (headquarters) then A (least difficult) to E (most difficult). The classification affects allowances and shows whether family members may accompany the employee ("family duty station") or not ("non-family"). Many NGOs use similar benchmarks.
Rest and recuperation (R&R)
In the hardest locations, international staff are entitled to regular breaks outside the country, called "R&R". The cycle depends on the location: every few weeks in the toughest settings. Ask about it during the interview.
Security
- Ask about the organization's security set-up: security focal point, movement rules, curfew, radio or satellite communications.
- Take a field security course before you leave. Many organizations require one.
- NGOs can rely on organizations that specialise in NGO safety and share analysis and alerts.
- Follow the rules even when they feel heavy: they are written from real incidents.
Insurance and health
Check that the contract includes health insurance, medical evacuation and war-risk cover. Keep your vaccinations up to date (yellow fever in particular) and take malaria prevention as medically advised.
Looking after yourself
Cumulative stress is the first risk for humanitarian staff. Keep a sleep routine, stay in touch with family and friends, and use the psychological support most organizations offer.