South Sudan Deng Malek Kuir Bul

What does a typical day in your job look like for you?

I am proud to provide technical support for programmes that focus on supporting children in need. These programme areas include WASH, education, health, nutrition, child protection, and emergency response. My role involves increasing demand and utilisation through social behaviour change strategies, including community feedback, engagement, mass media, advocacy, and information education. I monitor the implementation of behavioural surveys and studies, ensuring the involvement of state-level government stakeholders and overseeing data collection. Additionally, I support the state-level Risk Communication and Community Engagement Technical Working Group in adapting national strategies to local contexts. 

Deng conducting a community engagement session in South Sudan, with refugee community gatekeepers and stakeholders. The focus was on discussing and sharing integrated lifesaving messages.

Can you tell us about your upbringing and where you live now?

I lost my father due to a conflict that erupted in 1991 in South Sudan when I was a five-year-old. The conflict uprooted people from my village and I fled South Sudan with my mother and other relatives and took refuge in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya in 1992.  

I started my education in 1994 in the camp. We used to take classes under the trees and sometimes the blackboards would get blown away by the wind. My mother often asked me, “My boy, do you know your father now?” As a child, I replied to her that my father was dead and where was my father you are talking about? She would reply with a smile that my father is educated now. She encouraged me to study hard to complete my studies, telling me that I would enjoy the same privileges that my father could have provided if he were alive.  

She took me to the church in early 1994 in Kakuma Refugee Camp and I was christened Elijah. My mother encouraged me to learn to read the Bible in my mother tongue which I did and I started reading the Bible on my own. My mother encouraged me to grow up as a God-fearing child with respect for humanity.   

How did you initially become involved in the humanitarian field?

After completing my degree in Public Health in 2016, I started working in a camp for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Mingkaman, Lakes State. This camp was established as a result of the 2013 conflict in South Sudan, which caused an influx of tens of thousands of IDPs from Jonglei State into Mingkaman. Children and women were the most affected, enduring massive displacements, loss of life, and destruction of property. The newly established camp was in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Compelled to join the response, I travelled to the camp in early 2017, joining forces with other frontline workers to deliver essential interventions and improve the lives of those affected. 

What was your career path before joining CTG?

Before joining CTG, I worked with various humanitarian partners in South Sudan, focusing on emergency and developmental programmes. My career began in 2017 with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) as a Cholera Response Emergency Supervisor, followed by a role as Hygiene Promotion Coordinator for Help International in 2018. From 2019 to 2020, I served as a COVID-19 Project Officer for GOAL International, and in 2021, I joined CTG under the Johns Hopkins University Project, reducing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Since 2023, I have been working through CTG as a Social Behavior Change Project Coordinator for one of their clients, supporting programmes that benefit children and communities through community engagement, advocacy, and mass media initiatives. 

Deng on a radio talk show session at Mayardit FM engaging communities and caretakers of children under 5 years old to provide information about the benefits of the Polio vaccine.

What has helped make your work successful? 

Community engagement has profoundly improved our results by involving leaders and stakeholders, fostering a sense of ownership, and encouraging social behaviour change. Supportive supervision through regular field visits helps us monitor progress and address challenges with local solutions. Teamwork, with everyone’s participation in programme design, planning, implementation, and monitoring, has also been crucial for our success. 

What challenges do you face working in the humanitarian field and how do you overcome these challenges? 

One challenge is that some remote areas in South Sudan lack access to radio programmes that broadcast lifesaving messages and immunisation activities, making it difficult to change social norms and behaviours. We address this by setting up radio listening groups and distributing solar radios preloaded with these messages. The groups listen, discuss, develop local solutions, and share the information within their communities to encourage desired behaviour changes. 

We set up radio listening groups and distribute solar radios to encourage behaviour changes in remote areas.

Another challenge is the high turnover of community-based workers, which creates a gap in human resources and affects community engagement. We overcome this by continuously recruiting, orienting, and providing on-the-job training to new members, enhancing their capacity to promote effective community engagement. 

Beyond your professional duties, how do you spend your time outside of work?

Spending time with family, relatives, and friends to discuss and find solutions to pressing issues is important to me. I attend community cultural and social events, such as meetings and marriages, to connect and build relationships with the community. Running for an hour daily helps maintain my physical and psychological well-being. Attending Sunday services and evening prayers nurtures my spiritual life. I also enjoy a daily evening cup of coffee to refresh my mind. Additionally, I read work-related journals and materials to build my capacity and stay informed. 

What motivates you to continue working in the humanitarian field despite the difficulties you may encounter?

With eight years of experience working with various humanitarian partners in both emergency and development contexts, I have gained valuable skills and knowledge in transforming the lives of affected populations. The opportunity for continuous on-the-job learning, which significantly contributes to my professional development, also motivates me to remain in the humanitarian sector. 

What are your aspirations for the future of South Sudan, considering your experiences and observations in the field?

I aspire to eradicate vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks by engaging communities and educating caretakers on the benefits of vaccines, ensuring all children complete their immunisation schedules. 

Additionally, I hope to strengthen the health system by improving infrastructure, financing, and human resources, ensuring sustainable and equitable health services for all. 

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career within the humanitarian sector, in an environment like South Sudan?

My advice is to complete a relevant degree and then gain experience through volunteering or internships. This helps build the necessary skills and demonstrates commitment and hard work, which are crucial in this field. 

Additionally, pursue training in both hard and soft skills, such as communication, project planning, management, monitoring, evaluation, and data management. These competencies will enhance your skills and knowledge, preparing you for a successful career in the humanitarian sector. 

Read more stories from the field here.