AFEX
July 2011
Emails fly back and forth between DC, Princeton, Toronto, Nairobi and Juba as a company based in New Jersey wins a bid to run the first National Opinion Poll in the new nation of South Sudan. A professor and pollster I met at a conference on “Research in Non-Permissive Environments” refers me to the winning Princeton company as someone who has done data collection work in South Sudan the year before while I was working on a Master’s degree in War Studies. Since December my two year old and I have been living in my mother’s boyfriend’s RV as I pick up contract work and scrape together first and last month + security deposit for a basement suite apartment and furniture in Charlottetown PEI. Not my first choice, but the cost of living is low and need whatever help with childcare I can get since leaving my husband (her father) in South Africa for gainful employment back at home.
By the 16th of July the Field Coordinator and her Florida team have resigned, leaving me to carry the mantle on a multi-million dollar project for USAID and create a flow of deliverables since the project has already started. The days are filled with around the clock surprise phone calls from Princeton and Florida on Juba time as we scramble to put together a team, including my own South Sudanese friends and anyone I know who may know stats AND be willing to travel to South Sudan on a very short timeframe. Knowing that this is both a dream job and a raise in pay I desperately need to provide the basic necessities for my family, forces me to forget about the emotional toll leaving my child will take on both of us, so i pack that up in a box, wake up 3 hours before she does so I can PRODUCE that work flawlessly, on time and without complaint so they wont notice my giant knowledge gap on political polling, I am assured I have experts to catch me on this while i manage the cross-cultural communication piece.
Selection Interviewer selection is a vitally important factor in project success. One field challenge is transportation, including the likely absence of useful maps. With this consideration in mind, could you please let me know if your recruitment efforts are taking into consideration the value of having interviewers with adequate familiarity with transportationto and within the main regions within each of the states. Yes. We’re doing our best to get the people from all the regions. LAZAR, HAVE YOU AN EXCEL TABLE OF INTERVIEWERS BY REGION AND WITH EACH REGION, BY TRIBE , LANGUAGE/DIALECT COMPETENCE, AND GENDER.? IF NOT, HAVE YOU A SENSE OF WHEN WE MIGHT RECEIVE THIS. A MATRIX OF THIS KIND IS VALUABLE FOR ASSURING REPRESENTATIVENESS AND HENCE THE VALIDITY OF THE POLL? THIRD PARTY JUDGMENTS OF THE VALIDITY OF THE POLL DATA WILL BE DRIVEN TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT BY JUDGMENTS OF HOW WELL THE COMPOSITION OF THE INTERVIEWER TEAM MIMICS THE POPULATION OF THE COUNTRY.
I’m attaching the table. There is no reference to tribes. It’s considered a bad practice. Language is generally a good indicator anyway.
Another field challenge is regional demography, including dialects, tribe, gender, and potentially religion as barriers to interviewing. With this consideration in mind, could you please let me know if your recruitment efforts are taking into consideration the value of assigning interviewers to areas where their skills in local dialects would facilitate local acceptance as would common tribal membership and shared religion. Is your team also able to achieve a gender balance so that there are enough female interviewers to be able to carry out interviews with women respondents. We have interviewers who speak all the major languages. That said, there are plenty of languages for which we will need to secure translators. As for women, they are maybe 15% of interviewers. It is not easy to get women for this project. LAZAR, (A) WHAT IS IRI'S PLAN FOR SECURING AND PAYING TRANSLATORS? IN THIS REGARD, PLEASE SEE MY CONCERN, BELOW, WITH RESPECT TO FORESTALLING THE HIGH RISK OF ITNERVIEWER ATTRITION. We are working on this. The best option is to hire people on the spot for languages that are not considered to be major language in the state (we’ll have people speaking 6 different languages). Just to put things into a perspective, 192 languages are spoken in Sudan. Around 100 in South Sudan. Once we get a sample we’ll try to make a more detailed answer.
(B) WOMEN IN CONGRESS OR THE MEDIA MAY BECOME CRITICAL IF ONLY 10-15% OF THE INTERVIEWERS ARE FEMALE. HAS THE IRI TEAM EXPLORED THE INCENTIVES NECESSARY FOR INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE FEMALE CONTINGENT--E.G. SENDING FEMALES IN PAIRS, OFFERING ONE MALE LOGISTICIAN/BODYGUARD FOR EACH PAIR OF FEMALES, TRAINING THE BEST FEMALES TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN COMPANION FEMALE INTERVIEWERS LOCALLY, ETC.? We are making no plans to advertize the gender composition of interviewing teams and hopefully neither does Pechter. The real problem with women interviewers is a limited supply, it’s just one of the realities of Southern Sudan. It is possible to get women in Equatoria, which is a more developed region. It is more difficult to get women for greater bhar ghazal and upper nile regions. Getting equal gender representation, unfortunately, is not an option. We will try to get more women on the team. The person managing all the contacts is a woman and she’s trying to hire more. Offering logistician/bodyguard to a pair of women interviewers would increase the cost of the project beyond affordability.
Transportation Transportation will be a significant challenge. It is also a major factor in our ability to prepare a sampling protocol. With these factors in mind, could you please let me know
1. something about the magnitude of resources available for transportation
We will provide air transportation to state capitals. We will also pay for travel to counties. We want to limit the number of counties as local transportation may prove prohibitively expensive. LAZAR, THANK YOU FOR THIS. FOR OUR FIRM TO HELP IRI STAY ON SCHEDULE AND BUDGET AND FOR PECHTER POLLS TO STAY ON BUDGET, WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR MORE DETAIL AS SOON AS YOU HAVE IT, IDEALLY BEFOREWE DEPART FOR SOUTH SUDAN.
(A) COULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE AS MUCH SPECIFIC FINANCIAL DETAIL AS POSSIBLE RE (A) SURFACE TRANSPORTATION COSTS AFTER LANDING, Depends on the place. It ranges between 100 – 600 usd/day. Interestingly it’s river transportation in some places.
(B) IRI BUDGET FOR SURFACE TRANSPORTATION COSTS, There’s no specific budget in place. We need to see the sample first.
(C) OPERATIONAL PROVISIONS (E.G. WILL YOU BE LEASING MOTORBIKES/VEHICLES FOR THE MONTYH OR EMPOWERING INTERVIEWERS TO RENT ON A DAILY/WEEKLY BASIS?), AND ( We will not be using motorcycles. IRI logistics will be handling car rentals through the existing contacts. It will be on a daily basis. We need a sample in order to develop a detailed plan.
D) YOUR PROTOCOL FOR REIMBURSING TO INTERVIEWERS THEIR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION COSTS. It will be a part of the contract. It will depend on the state. We need a sample before we develop this.
(E) IN PARTICULAR, PLEASE BE KIND ENOUGH TO LET ME KNOW IRI STRATEGY FOR ENSURING THAT INTERVIEWERS ARE ADEQUATELY RESOURCED TO COVER MEALS, LODGING, AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BUT NOT SO ADEQUATELY THAT TOO MANY FEEL INCENTIVIZED TO ABSCOND BEFORE COMPLETING THE WORK. WITHOUT A VERY CAREFUL STRATEGY FOR REIMBURSEMENTS, MY COUNSELORS TELL ME TO EXPECT ATTRITION RATES THAT COULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT FIELDWORK DELAY, IRI COST OVER-RUNS, AND ADDITIONAL SPENDING BY PECHTER POLLS NOT FORESEEN UNDER THE CONTRACT. Interviewers will be given a lump sum figure to include reimbursement, food and accommodation. They’ll get food and accommodation fraction in advance. The rest upon completing the contract. This system worked fine for similar situations in the past. Other suggestions?
(F) WHAT PROCEDURE DO YOU HAVE FOR COLLECTING COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES?
Supervisors and interviewers will bring them back upon return to the state. No one is getting paid until we get the questionnaires. Any suggestions?
(G) WHAT PROCEDURES DO YOU HAVE FOR DEALING WITH CLAIMS, TRUE AND FALSE, OF THEFT OF COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES?
No procedures in place. You’re welcome to help develop them. We will not pay the interviewer until questionnaires are delivered.
(H) DO YOU HAVE A PROCEDURE OR PROTOCOL FOR INTERIM PAYMENTS BASED ON PERFORMANCE AND FOR TRANSMISSION OF INTERIM PAYMENTS?
No. We do not intend to be making interim payments. We do not have the capacity to do that.
2. the location of regional airports that you plan to be using as destinations along with (a) how many are still in operation in the rainy season, (b) frequency of flights, and (c) how many tickets your team has resources to purchase
Airports in state capitals are operational. We will purchase the tickets for all the teams that require it. LAZAR, COULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE DETAIL ON THE EXCEPTIONS. Central and Eastern Equatoria do not need air transportation.
3. your team's thinking and resources for local transportation for interviewers once they land at a regional hub--(a) what are your plans with respect to vehicles or motor bikes, (b) what is known about their availability at potential regional hubs, i.e.regional airports, and (c) budget for interviewer lodgings, meals, and local transportation relative to costs of these?
We are working on this one. Lodging/meals will be included in the fixed value contract. We haven’t entirely figured out local transportation. We’re working on this. LAZAR, PLEASE SEE MY REQUEST ABOVE IN #1. MY CONCERN IS TO AVOID AVOIDABLE DELAYS AND UN-NECCESARY COSTS BY SCHEDULING OUR ARRIVAL AFTER AS MUCH OF THIS LOGISTICAL/BUDGETARY WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND PROVIDED TO US.
I understand your concern. This is something IRI will be dealing with as we have experience in the field. We do not expect you to deal with this type of logistics. We are open to any suggestions for improving the process. As mentioned before we need the sample for developing concrete plans.
4. your team's plans for safe lodgings once interviewers are in field, i.e. knowledge of where safe lodging is available.
Many of the interviewers are from the area and I presume they’ll have their own preferences. We’ll deal on a case by case basis, but generally, interviewers will be selecting their own lodging arrangements.
Arrival
I meet up with my American and Canadian colleagues at an airport hotel with an ice skating rink in Nairobi to strategize for our departure to Juba the next day. This is after a full day’s flight of giving them a brief on what to expect in Juba, poor conditions including accommodation which usually consists of a windowless shipping container under a Chinese Restuarant, a bat infested abandoned concrete school or a straw tukul full of rats with meals consisting of scavenged road kill, pita bread and beer and bathing via communal bucket in the dark with scorpions and snakes. When we land in Juba and are driven to an American compound called AFEX for a buffet meal of American BBQ and then retire to our individual villas stocked with bottled water and American snacks I am floored. So was my previous experience was due to my poor negotiated skills or my lack of American colleagues? Afex is bumping. Its a South African owned resort that has morphed into a sort of American fortress of consultants who demand only the best for their field posts (on top of the danger pay of course). A couple of NGOs have rented office space in the camp along with Deloitte so people are living, working and partying around the clock as the misery of DDR in an opportunist shanty town bordering it, that lives off both Afex and the nearby abbatoir’s trash in a new fragile state is held at bay by security guards posted around the razor wired land perimeter. Meanwhile, 1st world guests/employees enjoy a new menu cooked by Kenyan chefs everyday followed by cocktail hour and American satellite so no-one ever need miss an NFL game.
Work Hard, Play Hard
The atmosphere at Afex is charged with sexual tension on a compound fueled by ambition and booze, staffed by global mercenaries, where men outnumber women about 7 to 1, the environment is inherently bro-ey. I spend a lot of the eating hours primarily with Kenyan and Ugandan moms as we discuss schools in Nairobi and Kampala and gripe over how our relatives our raising our kids in our absence as we grind. Speaking of grinding, there are parties every weekend at Afex and in addition to this more (fully funded) parties at embassies and NGOs around town, including the UN and the Red Cross. Partying is actually part of work. So many negotiations and learning takes place in these settings as mouths get looser. Its no secret that part of my success in this position has to do with my appearance. But the parties that I do like to go to are unsanctioned, the ones that happen at SPLA run bars with Kenyan DJs and the diaspora sweat to African music, like back in my student days of Uganda or my previous Johannesburg life. I speak out of the compound with my Kenyan colleagues to enjoy the scene only to be reprimanded upon return when the security guards tell our Security guy. The security guy is my friend so I get off with a warning that Africans are trying to rape me all the time so I should be more careful.
I have been having breakfast with 4 Americans who have been in Juba for a few years so I can glean insights from their experiences. One of them (Mike) is the Head of Security for Afex, contracted out to a Third Party called Greystone. Greystone is one of the companies created out of the rubble of Blackwater and staffed with the same people. The other people at the table include the Food and Beverage supervisor at Afex who is from Florida, another Floridian and a former Marine who now advises the South Sudanese military. This Marine, Chris has been asking me out on a date every day since we met at the bar while a rugby match was on. Everyone told me to stay away from him as he had a ‘bad reputation’ as a serial dater and he is married (so am I) but he is charming, persistent and the environment is hella stressful as I get ready to take off for remote check-ins on the survey so I could do with one of those orgasms he is persistently offering.
Hi Mike,
Based on our conversation, here is some more information about where we might be traveling. However, it will be subject to your opinion of the security situation and whether or not our polling teams will be in those locations at the times we will be there. Obviously, it doesn’t make sense for us to necessary go there if they are not around.
During the first week, we will fly into Wau (stay for approximately 2-3 nights), then drive or fly (if flights are available) to Aweil and stay for two nights. If possible and depending on the location of our polling teams, we might try to drive up to Malualkon for 2 nights, and then back to Aweil to fly back to Juba. I have to look into the WFP flight schedule to make sure that these travel dates can be arranged.
The second week might be a little uncertain at this point since we have not finalized the logistical plans for each of the teams in Central and Eastern Equatoria. Once we know for certain where they are, then I can tell you a more concrete plan. Currently, the plan is to drive to Yei, then Kajo Keji and then Torit. However, looking at the OCHA map, it looks like you need to drive back to Juba for each trip. Let me talk to some people in the office as well as our supervisors. Most of them come from those areas and have a better idea of the road networks. I’ll get back to you later in the week on the trip south.
Cheers,
James
Chris and I start dating. I need to get my mind off missing my baby back home in Canada with my mom. I also need an alpha to protect me as the parties at Afex are getting more and more predatory the longer I am there with mercenaries from the UK showing up along with US pipeline/ Embassy construction security detail via Louis Berger. We go to Indian and Ethiopian restaurants together with our friends from ‘camp’ during the week and these sanctioned parties on the weekends. But he is controlling. At one bar, he berates me for dancing near some South Sudanese guys because they were watching. The other Americans jump in and restrain him a bit. We argue loudly and make up because we are both used to this kind of incredibly unhealthy cycle. In a strange twist of events the breakfasts turn into a strange safety brief competition where 3 guys try to tell me who is putting me most at risk. Chris’ friend at the table, Mike who is the aforementioned Head of Security and former Army Ranger takes it upon himself to give me personal security briefings at odd hours of the day in his tent office as a friend and as a friend of Chris. Mike is married and is in charge of my security, this seems safe enough, he is also friends with Chris. He invites me to his villa one night after I arrive late from out of town, we chat while playing cards and he suggests strip poker. I decline. he insists, claiming that i’m not being fun and taking this way too seriously. I say fine, since I am leaving soon anyway - I am so tired after another near death experience on a retired Dash 8 managed by the World Food Program. That word ‘fine’ was all he needed to escalate the situation. As I try to leave I feel his hand around my neck, squeezing my throat as i repeat the word no 3 times and move myself closer to the door before i feel the sting of a belt on my ass as he has entered me from behind and slams me against the wall. I stop saying no and do what i later find out is disassociation.
It has been a tough month. A nice, tranquil, slightly buzzed float down the river could do wonders for all of us. I just booked a Nile cruise from Da Vinci on Sunday. Boat will launch at 3:00 PM.
· Cost is $20 per person/ hour (price has gone up with fuel prices); You guys tell me if you’re interested in a 2 hour cruise or a 3 hour cruise;
· I also need a head count by tomorrow.
· The boat captain will provide a cooler so we can bring our own beer and other refreshment. I don’t think anyone in this crew has ever had a hard time creating tasty drink recipes.
· We can also order pizzas through Da Vinci or come up with snacks on our own.
I sleep in my villa and meet up with the same group for brunch. Mike makes eye contact with me on numerous occasions from across the table and i smile and act as if nothing is wrong. I want to not get on this boat cruise but i also don’t want to think about what just happened. Everyone is hungover and newly drunk again by 5pm and Mike will grab my arm occasionally and talk in my ear about how much fun he had. I am now very afraid that Chris will find out when he gets back and blame me while still also being afraid of the Head of Security terrorizing me so I get drunk everyday until I leave, it also helps me ignore my increasing number of seizures due to stress and poor routine. I do tell the person who is supervisor of the project (one of the Floridians) and he agrees that it is a tough situation that i should keep to myself to avoid further incident, especially now that I am scheduled to interview for a permanent position in Juba at the end of the project.
Hey Melissa,
Thanks for your interest to work with IRI South Sudan. I understand you already talked to Frank and now we would like to interview you here in DC. We think it is good opportunity to do it on your way back to Canada. It will require a day or two in DC. Let me know what you think about this.
Best, Milica
September 2011
Despite working 10-13 hour days, we are off schedule. It didn’t help that I delayed things about a week arguing with 2 of the Americans over including more women. Went I met with thier boss in DC (another Albertan lady on our 99%male team) she made it very clear to me that a 50/50 gender split was a priority for her and that is why she hired me.
Melissa and Ian,
Good evening to you both.
I just got off of the phone with IRI-Washington.
They are very happy with the job that you're doing.
They said that they've told USAID that next Tuesday is the date that they need the questionnaire back so that it can proceed on Wednesday.
Apparently, the US Ambassador to South Sudan is looking it over the questionnaire himself and that's what is holding up the project!
They want both of you to stay for the duration of the project, and are willing to extend our contract to do so.
In light of this, if the survey is approved on Wednesday and you were to stay for the duration as they've requested, when would this leave you in the country until?
Can you stay that long?
And if so, how much longer should we bill IRI for your time there?
Also, Melissa, they want an email sent about Dut for me to forward to them. They think that he would be great, but are worried about his family history being a lightening bolt for criticism once the results come back. I told them that I think it will be fine, and you'd write an email that I could forward to them about this.
Finally, they expressed a strong interest in sending me back to energize the troops. It's a killer trip, but the place really left it's mark on me--so of course I'd go back in a heartbeat!
Please get back to me when you can.
I'm pumped!
I agree to stay.
Hi mom,
Sorry to hear about Fred. Of course Rana is allowed to go- but it is really up to her and her comfort level. let me know how it goes. So I guess we wont be able to Skype this weekend? maybe on sunday when you guys get back? I've been trying to "encourage" mbuy to skype with Rana while I'm away.
Thats nice of you guys to do all that stuff for Trish and Kalyn.
Things are picking up here again too. I have been working on the schedule again to pin down a day for our return. if all goes well I plan to be flying back on October 1st. I will know better in a weeks time because we are sending teams to the field starting on Wednesday. I can't leave here untill all the 24 teams return for a debrief which should be Sept.23rd- does that make sense?
When does Rana start daycare at Atlantic Childcare? I guess on Monday?
Love you guys.
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Hi Melissa,
Our weekend went really well. Rana was exceptionally behaved, especially around Great Great Gramma. She was very cuddly with her because of Uncle Fred. She seen Fred in the coffin at the wake and wondered why is was sleeping in a "cave". We explained things gently and as the weekend proceded, she was able to put it all together in her head. Even at the graveyard were the "box" was ready to go into the ground, she understood that it would be covered with dirt and that was the end of the story. On our way by the graveyard the next day she noted that this was where uncle Fred was and said some day when we come back to visit she'd like to put flowers on the grass where he is. (Like the graves surrounding his).
She totally loved visiting my cousins, my step-brother and his wife and of course GrGr Gramma. All in all she has had her first funeral experience and I think it was pretty positive (if funerals can be/you know what I mean ?)
We want to skype both you and M'Buy tonite. I told M'buy we would be on from 3 pm ~ 9 pm your time. Perhaps you guys could sort out who's chatting with us first. I am sure you will hear all about our weekend in NB. Love you , hope all is going well. Talk soon......xxxxooo
October 2011
Hi Melissa,
Hope this message finds you well. First off, I apologize for just getting back to you; it has been quite the week here.
Anyways, I am glad to hear you’ve returned safely to the “warm” confines of your home country, and I wanted to let you know what your interview schedule looks like for next Tuesday, October 11. Here you are:
11:30 – 12:00 M.P. – Sudan Program Officer
12:15 – 1:15 (lunch) J.T. – Africa Deputy Director
1:30 – 2:00 P. F. – Africa Director
2:30 – 3:00 T.G. – Vice President
3:00 – 3:30 L.C. & J. Van R. – President & Executive Vice President
Also, you are currently reserved at the Capitol Skyline Hotel. The link is provided.
http://www.capitolskyline.com/
I will let you know if anything changes, and feel free to give me a shout should you have any questions/comments/concerns. I look forward to seeing you!
Best,
Kevin
I don’t get the position because I am too interested in South Sudan specifically, rather than US strategy broadly. Although I need a permanent job desperately, its for the best as I am worried about sending my child away to relatives in South Africa while I work. i am also worried about being her only parent.
I write the narrative and submit it, waiting to be called on again to present the findings to US and South Sudanese government officials back in South Sudan:
Introduction
This being the first national public opinion poll conducted in Sudan both prior to and following independence, the project in itself is laudable in its uniqueness.
The general level of political engagement in South Sudan is evident by the high voter turnout in both the federal elections and the referendum which led to the nation’s referendum. Across the country citizens are generally eager to participate in democratic forums and share their political opinions. South Sudan is also unique in its vast diversity across the 10 states. There are a wide variety of political opinions expressed based on various challenges and identifying factors and thus many opportunities exist based on interpretation and analysis of the poll results.
Lastly, the openness and general facilitation of GOSS throughout the whole process was absolutely fundamental in not only promoting the poll but encouraging and building a culture of democratic participation through continuous feedback. The participation of government personnel in polling workshops is fundamental to the sustainability of this process and will continue with an indigenous polling company in the future.
Background
Notwithstanding, significant progress has been made especially in regards to the improvements in overall security, which has given the Government of South Sudan (GOSS), and international organizations a crucial window during which fundamental improvements to health, nutrition, and food security have been made possible. In addition anecdotal evidence seems to indicate that household livelihoods have improved after the signing of the CPA and subsequent independence of the nation. Resettlement activities have returned many people previously displaced to their homes, allowing these households to resume their livelihoods. Improved infrastructure and flow of goods and services have significantly had a positive effect on the new nation. However, accessibility to the rural areas is still a problem due to poor road conditions especially during the rainy season and insecurity in some areas.
Challenges
Challenges are present in any project and are common in conducting field research. The main challenges in conducting the public opinion poll in South Sudan included logistics, security, inclusion of marginalized groups, building trust and accountability. Beyond these there were others that included the questionnaire design, which created some delay but was of course managed and in the end some welcome time to coordinate logistics with the field teams. Other challenges included illness as many interviewers and supervisors contracted illness such as malaria while in the field and were unable to take adequate recovery time off due to the schedule.
Logistics/Security
The biggest challenge across the nation was logistics due to weather, as this project took place during the rainy season. Delays due to rain and flooding ranged from hours to days, depending on the state and county and also affected many of the flight and road accessibility to different counties.
Some teams did experience incidences of insecurity, these varied from tribal clashes in Jonglei, international border issues in Warrap to overzealous police in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and youth gang activity in Western Bahr el Ghazal. Three teams reported temporary detainment by local authorities as a result of their polling activities, however all were released after the county commissioner or payam administrator were contacted, as they had already been informed of and received consent of the polling activities.
Marginalized groups
One of the challenges from the outset of the public opinion poll was accessing traditionally marginalized groups throughout South Sudan, in every state and to the best of our ability; every accessible county was of the utmost importance in this public opinion poll. Unfortunately, at the outset, the database of potential interviewers and supervisors to be trained revealed a significant bias towards two minority ethnic groups, left some language groups out completely and had far too few women represented to deliver a representative response rate.
Building Trust/Accountability
When working in cross-cultural and demanding circumstances, such as field research, relationship building is of the utmost importance. Trust needs to be established to ensure accountability from all parties. From both sides, we need to represent that we are acting in good faith and that we will treat all contracts with integrity, professionalism and respect. From the research side they need to demonstrate that they will deliver research in a timely, accountable and careful manner. From the organization side, we need to ensure that we protect their safety, promote their professional goals and they are paid on time. Any time there is a break down on either side, it affects the research relationship, the accountability of the data and the end result of the project in its entirety. The maintenance of these relationships is fundamental, we rely completely on researchers to collect data in the field- they are our eyes and ears, our hands and voice while we are in Juba.
Communication
In order to overcome any foreseen interruptions in the mobile phone network, satellite phones were organized for the teams that were planning to be out of the coverage area. Plans were made to report via text message every evening, using a specific format but unfortunately the format was not adhered to and not all teams kept to the reporting schedule, making it very difficult to track teams while they were in the field.
Overcoming Challenges
Although there were many challenges, there were also many opportunities to mitigate these challenges through working as a team and by placing trust in our field teams and especially by relying in the professionalism of our pre-screened supervisors.
Logistics/Security
Booking flights from Juba did help to cut down on the budget that each team was required to manage and also took away some of the burden of planning logistics to and from the state capitals off the Polling Supervisors.
Security was managed exceedingly well by the relationships that supervisors built with community leaders at the state and payam levels, and thus led to very minimal incidences reported. Each supervisor had, in their possession, a letter from the President’s office approving the activities of the public opinion poll plus a letter from IRI authorizing them to carry an amount of cash and a satellite phone.
Marginalized groups
During the training great efforts were made by many to ensure that a diverse group of individuals had capacity to deliver face to face questionnaires from various different language, tribe and gender backgrounds. Teams, however were selected based on skill level, language ability and gender to ensure that marginalized groups would be accurately represented within the sample.
Building Trust/Accountability
Despite issues with trust in the beginning, many interviewers stayed involved because they believed in the goals of the project and because of relationships built. Direct and constant communication between Polling Supervisors and the Field Manager, and the Field Coordinator, ensured that any trouble shooting could be done, that teams and supervisor knew that we held them responsible for any accountability issues, that we knew the capability of each team and that had a working relationship with each team.
By allowing teams to manage their affairs in the field and reconcile and report upon returning back during a scheduled debriefing session, this helped to rebuild some of the trust that was lost in the beginning.
Communication
Communication through the use of daily field reports was necessary in order for those of us in the main camp in Juba to be connected to the research activities of each of the 24 teams in the states. This was especially important since the use of both mobile phones and satellite phones was limited due to network and operational issues.