Thread 1/14 - In light of the powerful #BlackLivesMatter movement going global there is a growing number of critical narratives being released on the systematic racism the Aid Sector in the Global South. #SSOT 
2/14 As someone who has worked within the system in #SouthSudan for over a decade, I will share some of my experiences & insight on the problem. I also want to acknowledge this from my view as a Khawaja & encourage #POC & specifically South Sudanese to also share their stories.
3/14 Let us start by stating that white privilege is even more pronounced when working in this context - from your salary, benefits, danger pay, R&R’s, free accommodation, and assigned domestic help etc etc...
4/14 Yet, we see still foreigners complaining about their hardship of working in #SouthSudan with most staying a year or less. I once watched in disgust as a white woman danced in lounge of JIA, loudly proclaiming how she "cannot wait to leave this S*%!Hole country".
5/14 In #SouthSudan you will see young, inexperienced (but white) college graduates are often given roles with substantial responsibility, seniority & pay in comparison with their South Sudanese colleagues who may have more experience.
6/14 I witnessed a South Sudanese colleague welcome his new bosses x2 within a year both much younger & less experienced than him. He was literally training them, yet they got the credit, $ & moved on to another Int. job while he remained, worried if his contract will be renewed.
7/14 In an attempt to do my part on the issue I once made the conscience decision to nationalise my team to be %100 South Sudanese. It was met with a lot of ‘they don’t have the capacity’ from some expat colleagues but we managed to prove them wrong.
8/14 It was also a challenge to ensure my very qualified SS staff got the salary & benefits they deserved. Even though they were costing the ORG less than the former expats this was a battle. Excuses like "this is their country" to excuse their hardships or struggles is common...
9/14 The ‘local’ verses ‘international’ staff conditions in the sector have been covered well by others, but while the push for #localization is growing, the reality is still a lot of rhetoric with ‘local’ translating into less respect, less money and less power...
10/14 The systematic racism has also infiltrated into socializing in #Juba. Within the Aid sector, segregated socializing is the norm & is reinforced by some policies that hide racism under the blanket of safety/security -like who can enter accommodation or even a vehicle.
11/14 International organization parties are often dominated by expats with only some token South Sudanese allowed to join. Some years back I received a group text message inviting me to attend a party at a notable INGO, stating, “bring your friends but leave the natives at home”
12/14 The issue is deeply imbedded in the sector & we need do better. Institutions & organisations need to commit to addressing some of the structural and systematic issues that are re-enforcing racist attitudes & actions.
13/14 And If you are a white person working in the aid sector, let us also ask ourselves some of the difficult questions about our own privilege & power. It is critical that we who have enjoyed discriminatory benefits speak up & do our part to create change in the aid sector.
13/14 Finally, I also acknowledge I have definitely benefited from the system & made mistakes. I am still learning how to be a better ally. I apologise to anyone that I have wronged in the past & I encourage all of us to think more critically & be open to the much needed change.
