Building Stronger Communities: Empowering RA Local Staff Through Insight and Action

What if one salary could support ten lives? Working in the regions we do we have the unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of our local staff. A core principle that drives our efforts is to always leave a place in a stronger position than when we arrived. Between May and July this year, we conducted nearly 500 staff surveys across South Sudan, Somalia, and Mozambique. These surveys explored key aspects of daily life for our employees, including household responsibilities, education, access to energy, migration, and the effects of climate change. The findings provided valuable insights into the socio-economic realities our staff face, enabling us to better understand their living and working conditions. This deeper understanding helps us identify ways to support them beyond just employment.

A few key takeaways really stood out:

1.??The Heavy Burden of Family Support

On average, one salary supports 9.7 family members, with a significant percentage of staff also supporting relatives beyond their immediate household. This places tremendous financial pressure on staff, who often act as the sole breadwinner for large extended families. To alleviate some of these pressures, we provide not only stable employment but also access to free meals and health and wellness clinics, ensuring our staff have additional layers of support.

2. Migration as a Reality

Over 50% of our staff have experienced migration, driven by conflict, climate change, or the lack of employment opportunities in their home regions. In South Sudan, this is especially poignant, with 80% stating they have relocated, many having fled during the pre-independence civil war. Migration isn't just about relocation—it represents a loss of community and stability.

3. The Widespread Impact of Climate Change

Over half of our staff reported being directly affected by climate change. The impacts range from increased illness due to extreme heat, which forces people to sleep outside, exposing them to mosquito-borne diseases, to property damage from floods, and rising costs of basic goods due to drought. We try to support our staff during these events, offering loans to staff when their homes are damaged by climate events and pay salaries in US dollars in regions with inflation issues, ensuring our employees can better manage rising costs. In 2025, we are planning to introduce financial literacy training for our staff. This initiative aims to equip them with essential knowledge on budgeting, saving, and financial planning. By empowering our employees with these skills, we hope to support their long-term financial stability and resilience.

4. Reliance on Charcoal for Cooking

More than 70% of our staff rely on charcoal cooking stoves, with rates as high as 93% in South Sudan. These stoves contribute to deforestation and respiratory illness when used in poorly ventilated spaces. In response, we are actively collaborating with an eco-stove company to provide cleaner, more sustainable alternatives—stay tuned for more on this initiative!

5. Upskilling and Cultural Exchange

Our local staff repeatedly highlighted how much they have learned from their international colleagues, from technical skills to cultural exchange. Upskilling is a cornerstone of our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, and we have set an ambitious target of promoting 5% of our local staff annually. To support this goal, we are formalizing performance reviews to ensure career progression, and growth opportunities are accessible to all. Alongside career development, we offer further education opportunities with dedicated study rooms to help our employees continue building their skill sets.

Through our local staff initiatives, we are committed to not only addressing immediate challenges but also empowering our local staff to build better, more sustainable futures for themselves and their families. The insights from this survey are invaluable to us as an organisation and we will continue to use them to guide our efforts to improve the lives of our employees and their families.

Katarzyna Evans

Head of Sustainability at RA International.