Interview with Malavika Subba, communication delegate, Iraq

 

1)    Could you chart your ICRC journey thus far? 
I started my adventure with the ICRC nine years ago in 2013 in New Delhi as regional productions manager, supporting communication teams in South Asia. In 2017, I moved to the position of the head of Regional Communication Centre, New Delhi. I also did a support mission of six months as communication coordinator in Kuala Lumpur in 2019. 
I changed my status from being a resident staff to a mobile delegate in 2020, going on a mission to Myanmar as a communication delegate. Currently I’m towards the end of a six-month support mission in Iraq as a communication delegate and will move to Bangkok very soon to start the next leg of the journey. I’m looking forward to continuing with the organization for many more years to come.

2)    Which assignment has left the deepest impression on you?
I cannot pin down a single experience because I have taken back a lot from each assignment. 
I was in Myanmar at the time of a crisis that had a huge impact on me, both on personal and professional levels. It was a difficult time for the colleagues, but their professionalism in staying neutral and continuing their work for the community despite everything taught me to imbibe their attitude in my work too. To me that was the best display of the ICRC’s neutrality. 
I have also had a tremendous experience in Iraq. The place has an enigma of its own. The people have lived through years of conflict, but it was almost surreal to see the resilience of the communities in central Iraq and how they are trying to rebuild their lives. 
In Aziz Balad (central Iraq), we met a woman who was affected by conflict and her house was being rebuilt as part of our assistance programme. Since her husband was working in another town, she was handling all the responsibilities on the home front while living in a temporary shelter. As she excitedly showed us around, she joked that her house has an automatic door, “you just give a little thump on the wall and the door opens up”. It was awe-inspiring that she could see humour in her living situation. 
The people in Iraq were so generous, open to talking about their experiences and appreciative of our work. It was very rewarding. I will go back to Iraq in a heartbeat if there is an opportunity. There’s so much that we do in the context and yet so much more that needs to be done. 

3)    What prompted you to become an ICRC delegate?
I was working with an advertising-marketing firm before joining the ICRC and happened to work on a few campaigns for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and International Labour Organization (ILO). That was my introduction to international humanitarian organizations. I was really impressed by their work and started reading up on them, eventually deciding that I also wanted to be part of the sector and make my own little dent in it. 
Once I joined the ICRC, I travelled a lot even as a resident staff because it was a regional position. I got the opportunity to visit most delegations in Asia-Pacific, from Afghanistan to Japan to Philippines to Bangladesh and more. It gave me exposure that I didn’t have before and I gained a wider understanding of our work, which sparked the desire to immerse more in the work on ground as a mobile staff. I think short support missions give an overview, but longer missions give you a deeper experience. 
Also, I wanted to embark on a different kind of adventure. Leaving family, country and familiar places is a huge move, so I wanted to see how I adapt. 

4)    Could you tell us about the team(s) you work with, and what you think is a “perfect team”? 
As a mobile delegate you change stations every year or two and your team keeps changing. That is challenging but you need to take time to know people, adapt and understand each other’s ways of working. 
I’ve had great teams who have been able to think and work in tandem and have also welcomed me into their circle. I think you must go in with the attitude that while you have a skill set to share, the team also brings something valuable to the table. 

5)    What does working with the ICRC mean to you?
The exposure and experience that I have gained in the last nine years has been unlike anything else I’ve experienced in life. Hearing from the communities or reading about them or hearing from other colleagues about their experiences has been immensely inspiring. It has added a whole new perspective to how I view life. 

6)    Do you find it difficult to adjust to new cultures? What do you do to assimilate smoothly? 
My dad was in the Indian Army, which meant that we moved every two years in a country that is very diverse. I had to make new friends every two years, be in a new neighbourhood or a new school. It was scary, no doubt, but also exciting. It wired me to adapt and even welcome the change. In the ICRC also, I’m excited to see what my next mission will be. 
I’m a people’s person, so I like to learn about the culture and context by talking to people and asking a lot of questions. I also read up a lot about our work and observe and listen. 

7)    What qualities does a person need to become an ICRC delegate? 
Have an open mind, be eager to absorb and learn. We are an organization with a long history, but we are also an organization that is fast changing in step with the world. So, we need people who are creative and can bring their own uniqueness to the work. 

8)    What tips do you have for someone who wants to join the ICRC?
Come in with an open mind and eagerness, not just about the work but also about the people you are going to work with or work for. Learn to be patient as you go into different contexts, ask a lot of questions, listen and observe. No doubt we need people with a passion for humanitarian work, but we also need people who are ready to adapt and are agile in their thoughts and actions.