As the RRP rehabilitates schools in River Nile, the state Minsitry of Education equips them.

In mid-July 2007, the River Nile state government pledged a 30% in-kind contribution to the Recovery and Rehabilitation Programmeme (RRP) in Abu Hammed and Berber localities. The state and locality government administrations are supplying RRP development projects with concrete, sand, water, local labour, technical expertise, and equipment. The budget of the RPP in River Nile amounts to 2.8 Million Euros (approximately US$ 3,7 Millions).

The Recovery and Rehabilitation Programmeme in River Nile is funded by the European Commission, and managed by UNDP on behalf of the Government of National Unity and Government of South Sudan. With a budget of 54.3 million Euros (approximately US$ 75 Millions) the Programmeme has also projects in Abyei Area and the eight other states: Red Sea, Blue Nile, South Kordofan, Upper Nile, Northern Bahr al Ghazal, Eastern Equatoria, Central Equatoria, and Warrap.

Approximately 50 national and international NGOs are implementing activities such as building schools, healthcare centers, water networks, vocational training, farming and agriculture, and training Programmemes.

The RRP in River Nile is made up of four Sudanese NGOs, including Roots Organization for Development (ROD), Global Health Foundation, Nawafil Elkhairat Organization, and African Charitable Society for Mother and Child Care.

The River Nile state government takes a strong leadership role in RRP activities, and is often involved directly in their implementation. As the RRP rehabilitates two schools, the Ministry of Education equips them with supplies and continues to cover the salaries of 23 teachers. In cooperation with the state water authorities, the RRP will soon inaugurate two water yards with the capacity of 10,000 gallons each that will improve water access for 6000 people in Abu Hammed and Berber localities. The state Ministry of Health helped conduct a seven-day RRP training session for 15 midwives to improve maternity care services while the state Animal Resources Department co-hosted a 10-day training session for 10 veterinary workers and equipped them with tools, medicines, and medical uniforms. The workers provide veterinary services to nine villages with a total population estimated at 14,000 people.

“We are very happy that the RRP budget covers the cost of half of the state’s development plan. All of the new facilities, such as schools and healthcare centers, will be delivered to the state Ministries,” said Mr. Mohammed Al Amin Jalle, the Acting Director of Planning and Development within the River Nile State Ministry of Finance.

Having all Sudanese NGOs implement the RRP has been paramount to the project’s success. The desert areas in River Nile state are considered to be a harsh place to live, and the people who make their homes along the river banks take pride in self-sufficiency and their deep roots in a difficult climate. These communities are known for their tendency for refusing relief assistance and their preference for working with national NGOs.

Members of the Abu Hammed locality commissioner's office are on the steering committee of the River Nile RRP.

“In 1998, there were floods all along the Nile River. People in other areas accepted relief and food distributions, but here people refused. If you ask our proud people if they need money, they will say ‘No, we’re okay,’ even if they are very poor. You have to build trust and get to know someone closely before they would accept this kind of assistance,” said Mr. Hashim Mohamed Osman, the Education Administration Manager at the Abu Hammed locality commissioner’s office.

The communities have welcomed the RRP because it is a development initiative rather than relief. The communities are members of the RRP steering committee, and the locality commissioner offices have made in-kind contributions.

Mr. Hassan Hamd El Seed, the RRP Project Manager in River Nile state, said that 95% of the RRP’s staff are originally from River Nile. Hassan works for ROD, which has worked with these communities for more than ten years.

“The RRP is the cornerstone of development in the area. Capacity building in particular has been tremendous. This is the first time we have had civil society other than sports clubs and the extended family. We now have committees in the localities that link up with all sectors. The RRP has brought organization to the system of self-help,” said Hashim Mohamed.

In addition to building the local government’s capacity through partnership, the project aims to provide a mobile veterinary clinic, plant trees, develop a loan scheme for private sector businesses, construct/rehabilitate 10 water supply systems and 12 hand-pumps, build human waste disposal systems and latrines, rehabilitate 10 health centres, and build and rehabilitate schools.

The RRP is the largest and most comprehensive recovery Programmeme in Sudan serving up to 800,000 rural Sudanese.

 

For more information on the RRP, please contact:
Jami Schievelbein
Information Liaison Officer
Jami.schievelbein@undp.org