The Global Phoenix - Issue 1 The Global Phoenix - Issue 1 | Page 30

Challenges faced in the Relocation Process are numerous and escalations of ‘ files ’ during service delivery are inevitable ! Challenges vary from those generated by the very structure of government and society ; extremely complex and inefficient bureaucracy , widespread corruption on all levels , lack of basic facilities and amenities in many areas and unregulated real estate markets to external factors ; natural disasters such as those caused by erratic weather patterns ranging from flash floods to extreme drought and medical emergencies like the Ebola epidemic that swept through Western Africa during 2014 / 15 and , according to The CDC , was still presenting a significant threat as late as June 2016 .([ i ])
Many African nations are ravaged by war along their borders and infighting between tribes and extremist political and religious groups is rampant and proves an on-going hindrance to progress . Add to this the stigma of terrorism , the threat of kidnapping and even murder of Expatriates in the not so distant past , and the resultant security concerns when relocating expatriate families remain very real and must be addressed with priority attention .
The burning question is ‘ How can these ‘ Africa-Unique ’ challenges be successfully confronted and overcome ?’
Settling realistic expectations from the get-go is vital for the success of any international assignment ! Africa is no exception !
The need to set realistic expectations is especially true of all relocations into Africa . It is essential that both Local & Mother -Company Corporate and the Expatriate are educated as to the difference between ‘ Local Reality ’ and ‘ Expatriate Reality ’ in the host country , and that they are assisted to balance their expectations within the confines of that local reality ; many commodities the Expat is used to are just not available locally – hence the term ‘ Hardship Assignment ’! – No-one ever said it was going to be easy !
Perception of what is ‘ Normal ’ and what is ‘ Luxury ’ is formed by the ‘ Reality ’ in which we have been brought up and live
Local HR of course live in their local reality and as such , especially in the case of joint venture projects or start-ups where there has been no previous experience of expatriate expectations and requirements , varying perceptions can lead to miscommunication , and this can be experienced both ways . One of the most glaringly obvious areas in which this is the case is that of Home Finding Services .