Lessons Learned from South Sudan Protection of Civilian Sites 2013–2016

Lessons Learned from South Sudan Protection of Civilian Sites - 13
Methodology
Qualitative and empirical research methodologies were employed in the data
collection process. The researcher carried out over 100 interviews, including semistructured
interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews.
Respondents included UNMISS, UN and international non-governmental organization
(INGO) personnel, as well as IDPs in the Bentiu, Bor, Juba and Malakal PoC sites
between October and December 2015. Interviews were also conducted with former
UNMISS senior staff members in Norway at the start of January 2016. Throughout
the research period (October 2015–January 2016), interviews were carried out with
former UNMISS and humanitarian staff who are currently outside of the country.
The author attempted to interview as many interlocutors as possible, but the constraint
of time created limitations. It must be stated clearly that humanitarians are not a
homogenous group. Indeed, even single institutions such as UNMISS have many
varied experiences and opinions among its staff. Few people were willing to speak
freely on record and so most references are anonymous. Importantly, references
to “humanitarians” or “UNMISS” are not representative of every humanitarian
organization or every staff member, and it is expected readers might strongly disagree
with some of the sentiments. It is hoped, though, that the opinions and experiences
from dozens of key informants across the major stakeholders adequately embody the
many challenges and situations. However, any misrepresentations or inaccuracies
are the author’s alone. Many thanks are needed to all those who were willing to share
their experiences and understandings of the issues.
Objective
The primary aim of the paper is to provide an impartial and independent
overview of the major PoC sites in South Sudan in order to improve
understanding between UNMISS, UN agencies and humanitarians working in
the PoC sites as well as the donors supporting those actors. Importantly, this
is not a comprehensive study of every facet of the PoC sites. Over the past two
years, various research institutes have looked into a number of PoC dynamics
in greater depth, including the UNMISS PoC mandate, the perception of
the PoC sites by the IDPs and rule of law. The focus of this report is on the
practical implications of the PoC sites for the many stakeholders involved.
1 L. Hovil, Protecting some of the people some of the time (International Refugee Rights Initiative, 2015); L. Sharland, and A. Gorur. December 2015. Revising the UN
Peacekeeping Mandate in South Sudan: Maintaining Focus on the Protection of Civilians. (The Stimson Center and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, December 2015);
F. McCrone Justice Displaced: field notes on criminality and insecurity in South Sudan’s UN Protection of Civilian Sites (working paper/unpublished) (Justice Africa, 2015).