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"During my three-year tenure in South Africa, we have had the president, First Lady, secretaries of State, Treasury, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Defense and several members of the House and Senate visit," a foreign service officer working in Pretoria (about one-and-a-half hours northeast of Johannesburg, South Africa) told me. This is an exceptional show of support to a region often forgotten by policy makers; she also noted that this tour in Africa has been one of the most rewarding in her career.
Working as a Foreign Service officer is a complex and exciting job. Whether you are working in political, economic, consular or administrative affairs, work in Africa provides special opportunities to interact with the highest levels of government, do critical policy work and feel like you are making a difference.
Africa’s Advantages and DisadvantagesMost Foreign Service officers I interviewed really enjoyed their time in Africa. Overall, individuals expressed that embassy work in Africa affords significant opportunities to interact with the highest levels of the host country's government. Several people noted there is generally less protocol associated with getting appointments on all sides, and that even junior- and midlevel officers are well-received in most government ministries. As one officer noted, "The best part of serving in Africa is the amount of responsibility you receive at a very junior level. I had minister-level contacts at both posts."
Embassy officers also felt that, compared to some of their other posts, the time they spent on the African continent involved more critical, decision-oriented work. This was probably due to the fact that much of their work was crisis-related and that the embassy staff was small. With limited staff, the officers explained, individuals work long hours but are afforded the opportunity to do important policy work.
Additionally, cultural interaction among embassy staff, as well as the host country, can be enriching. As one senior officer notes: "The job lends itself to much social contact with Africans if you want it, because the embassies are smaller, and many African cultures place great emphasis on personal relations."
The downside some officers spoke of is the lack of interest in the region, both from many US policy makers and also the American public. Another issue in Africa, as with much of the developing world, is illness. One Foreign Service officer told me, "I've had just about every illness one can get: malaria, shigella, salmonella, giardia, parasites, tapeworms, etc. I know my time on the continent has had a long-term effect on my health."
With terrorism now posing a worldwide threat, African embassies have tightened security. On a daily basis, embassy workers pass through stricter metal detectors and have more comprehensive automobile checks. Some vary travel routes to work and are overall more vigilant about personal security.
Despite these challenges, Africa remains a fulfilling, enriching place to spend at least part of a Foreign Service career. One political officer summed it up this way: "I love the work we do, because we often make a difference for poor, refugee, war-torn and politically marginalized people in Africa. It is where new US foreign policy decisions are being made as the Cold War has ended and a new chapter in US-Africa relations is taking shape."
The Foreign Service Exam As with a career in the Foreign Service anywhere, you must first take and pass the Foreign Service Exam, given annually each fall. For more information on careers in the US Foreign Service or additional embassy facts, visit the
State Department’s Web Site. There is a section that provides regional information for each country as well as a careers subtopic.
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