Factors affecting recruitment and retention of qualified national staff in organizations working in post conflict countries: a study of international non governmental organizations operating in Juba, southern Sudan

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the factors affecting recruitment and retention of employees in the International Non Governmental Organizations operating in Southern Sudan. The study adopted cross-sectional survey study of the International Non Governmental Organizations. The population of interest were all the International Non Governmental Organizations working in Juba as provided by United Nations- Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [UNOCHA] which is the coordinating body of all INGO’s present in Southern Sudan. Combinations of stratified and purposive sampling techniques were used to select 26 International Non Governmental Organizations out of the thirty eight. Questionnaires were used to collect data. A response rate of 54% was realized. The study found that there are many factors affecting the recruitment and retention of employees. The factors are basically the same and related. Chief among the factors that influence employee recruitment are pay attractiveness, organizations external work environment, availability of qualified staff, organizations recruitment procedures and advertisement channels among others. The main factors influencing employee retention are job satisfaction, organizational commitment to employees, pay, conditions of service, staff welfare, role clarity, procedural justice, gender sensitivity, conflict management system, staff development, advancement opportunities, flexibility of work arrangement, job stress, employee attachment to the organization, training opportunity, proximity of work place to employees homes, responsibilities and commitment outside the organization. The study recommended that the International NGOs working in southern Sudan should focus on and improve on pay attractiveness, organizations external work environment, availability of qualified staff, organizations recruitment procedures and advertisement channels among others also mentioned on the report so as to increase their power to recruit the right staff. The study further recommends that the International NGOs working in southern Sudan should focus on and improve on job satisfaction, organizational commitment to employees, pay, conditions of service, staff welfare, role clarity, procedural justice, gender sensitivity, conflict management system, staff development, advancement opportunities, flexibility of work arrangement, job stress, employee attachment to the organization, training opportunity among other factors also mentioned on the study to improve on their ability to retain good employees. The study was limited by low response rate and incomplete response to questions.