CLOTHES

Weight restrictions in the flight luggage must make us very careful with this aspect. Initially it is difficult to believe that we will live for 9 months or 1 year in a foreign country with less than 20 kg of clothes (especially if we are used to carry tons of stuff to spend 2 weeks anywhere…). The first thing to say is that it is possible. Many of the countries where we work have equatorial or tropical weather, what means you will wear 98% of the time short sleeve T-shirts and thin pants (For the remaining 2%, there is no need to pack half of our closet). In many NGOs, the organization even provide the T-shirts that we have to wear in the field. If in spite of that you still think that will need more clothes, buy them in your country of destination. Second hand clothes are available everywhere and in the main cities you can find stores to buy new ones. If you consider the average fee for extra-luggage in many air companies –around 30 euros per Kg (42 USD), that your NGO will not cover- you can be finally convinced of the importance of containment.

Here you have some recommendations for the essential items:

1- Shoes: for the daily work choose closed shoes (in the field you will step in mud frequently) that can be put without socks (if you do not want your feet to boil

2- Pants: If going to a tropical country, pick the thinnest cotton pants that you can find. Working at temperatures between 25-30ºC jeans and similar are too hot (Working in the field is much more common to loose or gain weight than in your country. Look for pants with elastic in the waistband, that can adapt to your changes)

3- Jacket, sweater: ONE sweater and one waterproof jacket is more than enough for the -slightly- cool nights and to protect you from the rain (If going to work in Southern Africa- Lesotho is especially freezing- during its winter, prepare some more winter clothes)

4- Underwear: Bring all your underwear. In the field maybe you will not have washing machine and in many African countries is not accepted by the local cleaners to wash this type of clothes…It means you will probably have to wash them (and you do not want to be washing every 3 days, right?)

5- Other items: A head lamp is one of the most useful things to bring to the field. In many projects you will not have electricity and to move in the dark having both hands free is really practical (even if the electricity supply exist, power cuts are frequent everywhere and it is better to be prepared). Bring a watch that has a second hand, especially if you are a health worker. If yours is too fancy, leave it at home and buy one for 1o euros. As a general recommendation, do not take to the field valuable items. In a context of poverty is out of the point and can make us targets (especially in urban areas)

EXPAT HEALTH

Water: Running water supply is not reliable (in terms of quality for the consumption and regularity of the service) in many developing countries. Projects based in rural areas have usually in place systems to collect and purify the water. In town and cities with water supply, to drink from the tap is not recommended. The best option is to buy a filter (available in hardware stores) and fill it everyday. Boil the water for at least one minute before filtering make the process even safer. Due to the frequent water cuts, to have a big bucket full of water to use for personal hygiene is very practical

Malaria: Many of the developing countries where the NGOs work are endemic for this disease. Malaria prophylaxis in these areas is not an option but a mandatory measure to protect our health against a disease that kills 3 million people every year. Aroun medicines used in prophylaxis (especially Mefloquine) there are a lot of myths that have little to do with reality. My experience with many expats is completely positive and minor temporary side effects (especially insomnia in first month) does not justify to change to a more expensive alternatives or –of course- to stop taking prophylaxis

Health Insurance: Your contract with the NGO will include a health insurance for the time you will be abroad. Read carefully the terms of your policy and also go to the website of the insurance company. Usually it includes a list of the most reliable hospitals in your area in case you have any health problem. For some reason, NGOs are lazy to send you the information about policy numbers and ID cards. Try to get this info ASAP (even before leaving your country), study in advance the options you have in case of a health problem and make accessible the emergency numbers (provided by the insurance company) where you can call if there is a problem

COMMUNICATIONS.

Coms in the field are limited by different constraints and the technology is just one of the aspects. In general –as it is easy to imagine- everything works slower, takes longer and it is more likely to make you crazy

Telephone: Mobile phone network is widely available in developing countries. Ensure your cell phone is unlocked (can be used with any mobile company) before leaving home. Sim cards are usually inexpensive and prepaid airtime can be found everywhere. For international calls, Skype is the best option (see internet section). Install in your computer before leaving and put some credit to be able to call fix lines (processes like set up an account and add credit can take for ever with a dial up connection. Try to be ready before arriving to the field). In my experience, the quality of the sound is better with Skype than with other systems like Yahoo Messenger. (In general, unless you can access broadband internet, forget about using the webcam in your calls). If 3G network is available one interesting possibility can be to download Skype in the mobile phone (see www.skype.com/download/skype/skypelite/ for phones with this option). It let you receive calls from a computer straight to your phone just for the price you pay for the Megas used during the conversation (the quality of the sound is not very good, anyway). The option to call from the mobile phone using Skype to a computer is just available in a few countries and you have to pay also local call rates for the minutes you use

Radio: Short Wave (SW) radio reach absolutely everywhere and can be your only connection with the rest of the world in remote places where other networks are not available. To bring one of these multiband receivers is essential especially if you are going to work in remote areas (BBC World Service is for me the “gold standard”, but there are many other international and regional stations that broadcast in English. For those with access to internet (especially faster than dial up speeds) to listen radio stations through internet is a good option (take into account it will use around 50 megas/hour if you pay according to megas downloaded). To be connected to your own world –and your own country- helps to prevent “burnout syndrome” and it is highly recommended

Internet: We can find many different scenarios according to the setting and the logistic capacity of the organization you are working with:

a) Internet through satellite phones (Mini-M or BGAN): Just to send and receive emails (without attachments!) due to the high price of the subscription in these kind of services. Used just in remote areas (or as backup), your internet options are very limited here (Feel lucky that at least you have the mail!!)

b) Dial up connection: If you are working in the field, the most likely option. Speed connections of 56 Kbps or less can make anyone crazy when takes for ever to open any website. If you have your own computer, set up the Outlook (or your mail program) to send and receive emails. You will save a lot of time and can surf (in slow motion) in the internet while the mail is downloading. Skype works at these speeds and it is one of the most useful programs you can have in your computer

c) Internet Mobile 3G: In many developing countries, this option is starting to be available, even though just in the main cities. Using a USB modem connected to your computer and through prepaid or contract tariffs you can reach speeds of up to 3.6 MB/sec (in reality, divide this figure by 10, but still is pretty fast). Prices per Mega are around 3 times the tariff in Spain or other countries. One alternative to buy the USB modem (that will be useless when you return to your country or even when working in other developing countries) is to use your mobile phone as a modem (just feasible if has HSDPA technology. If not, the speed can be dial up-like). For that you will need an USB cable and some software (that probably will come with the cable or can be downloaded from the website of the mobile company....) If your mobile is locked, think in the possibility of purchasing an unlocked one with HSDPA and the option to download Skype before starting your mission. You will save money and it will increase your chances of being connected

d)Fix line broadband: Just accessible in the capitals of some developing countries. If that is your case, you will not notice too much the difference with your home country regarding internet

DOCUMENTATION

Ensure you have all the documents requested by your organization. The bureaucracy of many developing countries is a relentless machine that will have no problem to refuse a work permit an expel an expat from its country because you do not bring a document, that considered not important. As a general recommendation, scan every certificate from the kindergarten to the Master degree and bring the originals (when size allows it) and/or certified copies
Vaccination cards (especially yellow fever even if the country of destination does not request it: you can need it when travelling around), International driving license, credit cards (ATM are available in many cities) and some cash in USD must be part of your checking list. Ensure your passport have enough pages: crossing borders for different reasons is common and the stamps and stickers can consume many pages. Some organizations recommend to carry the so-called “security kit”, that can include a fotocopy of the passport, a list with the emergency numbers, the insurance card and some money –to be given in case of a robbery- Folded properly and rapped in some plastic envelope can fit in the space of a credit card. Especially in contexts where security can be a issue is a good idea

RELATIONS WITH THE ORGANIZATION

The “humanitarian world” has become a big industry where many organizations struggle to get funds and are organized in the same way than profit companies. To maximize the performance of the expatriate is one of the goals (especially when headquarters are full of HR staff, "new business development officer" and multiple advisors and coordinators whose jobs depend in part on the work of others). To do that, the NGOs usually have no problem to take advantage of the good will of the expatriate (especially in the first missions). Field positions in many NGOs receive salaries under 1000 euros (what means in the case of health professionals, 1/3 or less than the pays in their home countries) and this is justified to spend the majority of the budget in the beneficiaries of the projects. Organizations, anyway, have to abide by the law of their countries when they draw a contract. As the labour laws are usually created to protect the employees, NGOs have to use different tricks to justify these low salaries to workers normally with high qualifications (eg: using contracts under special conditions, as the so-called “Volontaire” in France, that allow the employer not to pay unemployment benefits to the expat or choosing salary scales in the contract that apply to non-qualified workers)
Organizations try to save money in other different ways. One well known NGO decided to cancel the evacuation insurance from the policy of the expats during the last holidays that they sometimes took after leaving the field and before returning home (still under contract). The rationale was that the benefactors could not cover that (apparently the mental health of the expats and the risks that they had took during their mission did not matter...). In case of being fired –it happens...-, NGOs have no problem to use the law in its own benefit. The fact that your work place is a refugee camp in Africa, in the middle of nowhere is not going to make a difference

As a general recommendation, remember:

1.- “You are not going to save the world”. You are just part of a coordinated effort that is trying to improve the health of communities affected by multiple problems. If you want to be effective, think also in your own mental and physical health and fin the way to make your work sustainable
2.- Be aware of your human (and legal rights) when working in the field and how your organization is limiting them. Some NGOs use security issues to justify almost everything even in contexts quite stable. Try to get the security policy in your project before signing the contract and think if you can assume that
3.- In case of renewal of your contract while still in the field, ask for something in exchange (eg: courses in Europe related to your area. Many organizations have this option, but how they decide who goes is quite fishy). For the organization, to have someone experienced in your position is an asset and you are saving them time and money
4.- If for some reason you decide to leave the field before the end of your contract, try to inform your organization ASAP (if not specified in the contract, one month can be reasonable). They can not force you to stay and the only “punishment” for you can be to pay the return ticket. As a general recommendation, keep your own passport instead of handing over the organization
5.- Be responsible with your work, but do not forget your real situation (if you are paid less than 1000 euros to provide medical care in overloaded and stressful settings, do no feel guilty if you have to refuse to work 24/24...)