Saturday, January 30, 2016

Expensive Faces for a few Spaces


 
Sustainability and Affordability are part of the mantra civilians were given when we trained to come here, but too often it is expediency at whatever cost which drives many of the military here.  It’s a constant tug of war, and no more so than with the consultants we (and the other Donor’s) fund. There are at least five programs that fund Afghans to work the Ministries and they are all substantially better paid (5-15X) than the Civil Service Corps leaders and more is requested of us every day.  So much so, that when we decide to cut the support for any of them (because of patronage, corruption, inefficiency or down right fraud), the proverbial howls come.  Sound familiar?  Back home, the mechanics of Government trump the faces of the people who work it.  Over here it’s the opposite.  “Mr. George, don’t these fine people deserve to be employed?” Well yes I say, but the money you are using is for payroll management and they are photographers.  “Yes, but good photographers with Master’s Degrees”, comes the retort.  “Well if they are doing such a wonderful job, then the Government should have no problem picking up their salary’, I say confidently.  “Oh no, there is no money for that Mr. George”, they respond equally confident.  Unfortunately many of the howls come from folks in our camp who have equated their success with making Ministers happy and not making waves during their tour.  It’s a constant tug of war that I will win, or they will wait me out.

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