And now for a rather amusing (? - bemusing may be more appropriate!) anecdote from the world of WASH in South Sudan.
One of my roles here in Oxfam GB is to act as the WASH Cluster State Focal Point for Lakes State.
The WASH Cluster is a system set up by UNICEF that is designed to facilitate coordination of WASH emergency response activities between NGOs, the Government and the UN. This includes the management and distribution of emergency 'core pipeline' materials (like hand pump spare parts, hygiene kits, latrine slabs, soap etc). The key to this system is the nomination of focal people in humanitarian agencies that are undertaking Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) activities. Each state has one and I'm it for Lakes.
Luckily for us, during my time here there haven't been any major emergencies in Lakes that have required a rapid WASH response. My main responsibilities have been to coordinate monthly WASH Cluster meetings and all the activities that go along with it (which are mainly associated with sharing information between agencies and working together with the government on longer-term developmental WASH activities).
The upshot of all of this is that as WASH Cluster SFP, I was invited to attend the Ministry of Water Resources & Irrigation Bi-annual Planning and Coordination meeting. It was held this past week in Yambio, a beautiful town west of Juba which is remarkably cool and green - it even rained regularly! - an incredible relief and change from the rest of this unbearably hot country.
The meeting was a gathering of over 100 participants from all ten states of South Sudan involved in WASH activities, be it as NGO, UN and World Bank representatives, or Ministers, Deputy Generals, Directors and Deputy Directors of State Ministries, County Commissioners and other civil servants. The Governor of Western Equatoria State (the host of our meeting) and the Minister for the National Ministry for Water Resources and Irrigation attended and were the people who's arses were most regularly kissed.
We spent the 2.5 days having a talkfest of all things WASH in South Sudan, covering topics such as hand pump spare parts supply, plans for urban water distribution plants, geophysical surveys and data collection, CLTS (see an earlier post) and strategic plans for water in South Sudan, and sharing common issues, challenges and ways forward. And finally, the MWRI launched their Strategic Plan for Water & Sanitation in South Sudan. So it was all rather formal and protocol-filled, and involved a lot of sitting around listening to laboriously long presentations from a bunch of guys in suits.
So funnily enough, when the Governor gave his closing speech, he invited all the participants to the State House for a post-meeting celebration. "One for the road" was the way he put it, amongst inviting us to see the legendary 200 year old tree in his marvellous courtyard (I planned to go for that alone, besides feeling I should probably show my face). He didn't forget to spruik how Western Equatoria State was the best state in the country and that we should have the meeting there every year either. Sure, if they hold it in mango season. I've never seen so many mango trees in one place and mango season here is legendary. I wouldn't mind giving up my limited diet of goat, rice and greens for 3 days of pure mango-eating sloth.
When we turned up to the Western Equatoria State House, to the Governor's credit he certainly did have one of the most amazing trees I've ever seen in his huge courtyard. Past Kings used to hold court there to decide the fate of their citizens. He had the place set up for eating, drinking and watching performances by local youth singing and dancing in traditional style, plus even a local music star called 'Doctor Love' who performed a song entitled 'congratulations' especially for the Governor (apparently penned for him, too). Once the governor had opened proceedings (already having taken a few bevvies) the entertainment began.
The tone of the night was set by the performance of the good Doctor, with this young guy in his baseball cap, baggy jeans, basketball boots and bling singing to a terribly distorted backing tape. To his credit he actually pulled it off, the many gaps in the tape proving he could actually sing, and all the dignitaries getting up and grooving away on the improvised dance floor. Some of the UNICEF guys who had jointly organised the meeting also got up and strutted their stuff, to the amusement of everyone in the compound.
What came next took all of us by surprise, and will be what I remember most about this 3 day talk-fest!
The State Minister, at the request of the Governor, had organised a 'Miss Valentine' Beauty Contest to try and promote local girls' education, intelligence, beauty and presentation skills. The winner had been judged on Valentine's Day, but in their wisdom the organisers wanted the Governor to present the prize - a motorbike(!) - in front of all the delegates. There was even an organising committee, and the entrants had been coached and prepared in 'presentation skills' prior to the event. We all were a little concerned when the contestants had turned up, and the thought had even crossed some of our minds as to whether they were a group of prostitutes hired for these 'honourable' government officials. So we were relieved when we realised who they were... momentarily.
The girls were all frocked up in slinky dresses and proceeded to strut their stuff on the improvised catwalk in front of all the guests. Now the idea of promoting girls' education and development is a commendable one, and sure, the contest (apparently) had an 'intelligence' component, and
encouraged the girls to be more confident and present themselves
confidently in public, but REALLY?! In front of an audience of mostly middle-aged men, 15 year olds strutting about, flicking their hair provocatively and posing seductively was simply taking the piss. I'm sure it was having the intended effect ... ha! Not to mention grossing us out. The other disturbing thing was the soundtrack to the catwalk, the popular song Nwa Baby Ashawo by Mr Flava, which is a song about picking up prostitutes.
Despite all this, it was somewhat amusing and generated quite a lot of discussion amongst all the closely attentive men who each had their favourite. I was buoyed by the young girl who was not really a 'true South Sudanese beauty' and clearly out of her depth amongst the taller, slimmer, more glamorous contestants. I wanted her to win purely for having the guts to enter.u
After this had gone on, the organising committee representatives got up and announced the top four contenders, and then went on to announce the quite predictable winner. This brought on raucous applause from everyone in the courtyard. The Governor (who was decidedly pissed by now) then got up and presented the rather hefty prize of a motorbike. He introduced the father of the winner and thanked him for coming; on ushering them off the stage, the winning girl subtly slipped him the keys to her new prize. Oops, did I use the word 'her'? I should have said 'his'. Even the Governor in his ramblings, after earlier stating that the prize could assist her to more easily get around and promote her independence, advised her to give it to her brother, her father, or even try to ride it herself, but to be careful not to cause any accidents. Hmmm. Not sure if it was the most carefully thought out prize. I just hope she gets to keep it - and is allowed to learn how to ride it.
The Governor was then very clear in his declaration that these girls were NOT prostitutes but future upstanding citizens of South Sudan, who he hoped to encourage - through these beauty contests - to go on to bigger and better things, get educated, score jobs in Government; and of course not stray off the path or allow men to impregnate them while they were still young and throw it all away. I mostly heard BLAH BLAH BLAH. He then announced that he was introducing a law in Western Equatoria that jailed any man for 24 hours for impregnating an under-age girl. Interesting...!
Then there was the question of contestants 5 - 15, who had missed out on the top four placings (and any remote chance at the prize). In what seemed to be a nice offer of consolation (or perhaps pity?), the Governor offered them a shared prize of 1000 South Sudanese Pounds. What then happened was a rather bemusing splashing of wealth from the Ministers, Director-Generals, Commissioners and other civil servants in order to match or better the offer of the Governor. It was a case of both peer pressure and a show of wealth that neither impressed nor amused, much like the beauty contest itself. In the end, a combination of donations (Goverment funded of course!) led to a total of around 10,000 SSP - around USD3,000. Not a bad effort really, and while completely misguided, the one group of people who thought it was completely wonderful were the girls themselves. I just hope they spend it wisely - and that these politicians actually pay up.
In a country where women are second citizens in more ways than I can count on two hands, twice over, these kinds of initiatives - while made with good intentions - really, really REALLY don't contribute to the advancement of women's rights, education, equality or any of the things that we enjoy in 'the West'.
Sigh.
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