27/05/2026
South Sudanese Clients mistrust their local Engineers over Foreigners.
By Engr. Maker Mangol Acien Yuol
Email: [email protected]
Published by Number One Citizen Daily Newspaper on 16/12/2025
Our own South Sudanese Clients aren't trusting their own local Engineers who studied various Engineering fields and who have the same qualifications with foreigners. Both private sector and government institutions give contracts to foreigners over local expertise according to my Survey within Juba, there are several reasons why South Sudanese clients might prefer foreign engineers over local ones as this issue is quite common in South Sudan as hereunder; Some clients may perceive foreign engineers as more experienced or qualified, possibly due to their international reputation or education, Clients might associate foreign engineers with work ethics, punctuality, and attention to detail. Foreign engineers may be seen as more familiar with global best practices and standards, which can be beneficial for complex projects. Foreign engineers might be viewed as impartial, without local biases or connections that could influence their work.
However, it's essential to note that local engineers have got the same qualifications and some have extensive experience working on various projects in South Sudan, including building schools, clinics, roads, warehouses etc. They can successfully implement projects for government institutions, UN agencies, NGOs, and private clients that can bridge this trust gap, it's crucial for local engineers to Develop strong portfolios, Showcase their past work and successes to demonstrate expertise, Network and build relationships, Foster connections with potential clients and partners Highlighting unique strengths, Emphasizing their understanding of local conditions, languages, and cultural nuances while Enhancing credibility by obtaining globally recognized certifications perhaps the government and private sector needs to give priorities to Local Engineers who have qualifications to explore their knowledge into fields. At least, 85% to 95% of Engineers should be Local Engineers in all the international and local Engineering Companies. There are many Engineers in the Country currently and many others are studying Engineering fields and this will be a great improvement of the country's development.
By doing so, local engineers can increase their visibility, build trust, and compete more effectively with foreign engineers.