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Fast
Facts: |
• Project
Document
• Mapping
and Capacity Assessment of Civil
Society Organizations (CSOS) in
Darfur |
Location: |
Darfur,
SUDAN |
Duration: |
October
2007 – Dec 2011 |
Focus
area: |
Crisis
Prevention and Recovery |
Contributions(USD): |
Khalifa
Bin Zayed AlNehayan Foundation
: 250,072.17 |
Partners: |
NGOs,
CBOs, Department of Development
Planning- Ministry of Finance
& Economic Planning &
UN Agencies (UNEP , UNICEF, UNAMID,
UNFPA) |
Delivery(USD):
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2010: 705,351
2009: 1,825,907
2008: 1,755,440 |
Contact
person in UNDP: |
Musa
Ibrahim, Programme Officer (Human
Security & Recovery Unit)
musa.ibrahim@undp.org
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Background
The current conflict
in the Darfur region of Western Sudan
which erupted in early 2003 has caused
suffering to civilians .The estimated
2.5 million of the civilian population
that has been forced to flee from
their rural homes are relying on food
aid in displacement camps. Before
the conflict, agriculture and livestock
used to be the main livelihood strategies
for rural Darfurians. However, livestock
was either looted during attacks ,or
sold through distress when displaced
people first arrived to the camps.
In addition, livestock migration routes
have been blocked due to the conflict
causing serious overgrazing. In the
present setting, the loss of land
and insecurity have hindered the potential
of agriculture as a livelihood strategy.
Trading patterns and markets have
been severely disrupted. Host communities
have not been spared from price distortions,
mainly as a result of food aid.
The situation in Darfur is complex
and volatile. The conflict is rooted
in competition over natural resources
such as water between nomads and rural
communities, economic marginalization
of the Darfur region as well as tribal
and ethnic clashes. For the past several
years, the international community
has focused on life-saving interventions
creating dependencies and disempowering
people. The assumption that food rations
cover all the food needs of displaced
people is mistaken. Studies conducted
in camps have shown that families
sell their rations to cover other
needs and this has resulted in malnutrition
particularly among children.
Local people have certain preferences
for example they prefer locally produced
sorghum and cooking oil and therefore
sell their rations to buy local food
which is more expensive. There is
general consensus among practitioners
on the need for the incorporation
of longer term support with conflict
resolution potential to cover livelihoods
needs of all communities (Internally
Displaced Persons, urban and rural
communities including nomads) in Darfur
whilst at the same time providing
relief.
To help fill this gap, UNDP with the
support of its Bureau for Crisis Prevention
and Recovery (BCPR) started the Darfur
Livelihoods Programme involving a
large number of local, national and
international partners.
Objectives
The Darfur Livelihoods project aims
to prepare the ground for enhanced
socio-economic recovery. The specific
objectives are:
• To enhance employment opportunities
through vocational training in such
skills as construction, motor and
bicycle repairs, carpentry, welding.
• To enhance the recovery of
the local economy ownership and sustainability
through capacity development of local
NGOS and CBOs.
• To support the development
of curricula and delivery of certified
skills training for youths including
girls and particularly IDP youths
for access to formal employment.
• To enhance exchange of knowledge,
experiences and information on livelihoods
and natural resources management in
Darfur through the establishment of
a web based platform.
• To strengthen enterprises
and increase their income through
capacity development of economic organizations
such as cooperatives and farmers unions
and assisting producers to maximize
profits by developing commodity value
chains.
Snapshots
of the project's major achievements
• In
partnership with Nyala Technical College
in South Darfur, 208 youth from Kalma
IDP Camp received 3 months vocational
training in 13 trades and were further
supported with start-up toolkits to
establish youth microenterprises.
Major highlight of the initiative
was the ability to negotiate and enroll
IDP girls in what are considered male-only
trades such as mobile phone repair,
installation, maintenance and repair
of satellite dishes. They are probably
the first females to enter such trades
in Darfur. 108 youth are undergoing
similar training in Kass as UNDP support
percolates further from major urban
centres to rural locations with relative
stability.
• 2 women/youth centres were
constructed in West Darfur and one
centre was rehabilitated in North
Darfur.
• In partnership with the Darfur
Development and Reconstruction Agency
(DRA) a national NGO, 195 male youth
enrolled in 4 vocational trades at
the El Fasher Technical School in
North Darfur. In the same state the
Community Development Department of
the University of El Fasher successfully
trained 57 women including IDPs in
food processing, handicrafts and computer
skills.
• Traffic police in El Geneina-
West Darfur and UNDP partnered to
impart driving skills to 30 IDP youth
including 4 girls from Dorti Camp.
• In North Darfur, 1 new water
yard was constructed in Abu Zouk,
a non-functional water yard was successfully
rehabilitated in Abu Gera and 5 hand
pumps were installed in the villages
of Mogabil, Kungour, Sailae and Hilat
Saleh 2. An estimated 12,500 conflict-affected
individuals benefited. Photo and video
documentaries were produced. At community
level, a total of 30 hand pump mechanics
from rural El Fasher, 6 of them women,
were trained in operation and maintenance
of hand pumps. At technical level
and in partnership with UNESCO water
chair in Khartoum, UNDP supported
the training of 23 laboratory technicians
and 21 water engineers in water resources
assessment and planning including
modern water quality lab testing and
ground water assessment techniques.
• To strengthen the capacity
of government institutions to take
their lead role in early recovery
coordination, 8 computers were provided
to needy departments and training
workshops on strategic/development
planning, project cycle management,
basic computer skills were conducted
throughout the 3 Darfur States. A
total of 280 government officials
benefited from the training workshops.
• In partnership with HAC federal
level, UNDP commissioned a capacity
assessment study of Darfur CSOs with
the aim of building the capacity of
local institutions so that they can
effectively contribute to peace building
and socio-economic recovery. Out of
the 447 CSOs that were assessed a
total of 67 CSOs were recommended
as potential partners in the fields
of livelihoods, natural resources
and peace building.
• A web platform was designed
to facilitate sharing of information
and experiences among NGOs, UN and
Government partners in the areas of
livelihoods and natural resource management
in Darfur. It will expand to including
other areas in Sudan beginning with
Kassala.
• In November, 2009, a knowledge
sharing workshop organized by UNDP
in collaboration with UNEP and TUFTS
University (US) in Nyala, South Darfur
brought together over a 100 national
and international experts from the
government, UN and civil society involved
with livelihoods, natural resources
management and microfinance in humanitarian
situations.
• In Kabkabiya, North Darfur
UNDP provided start-up vocational
tools and equipment to youth who had
benefited from UNICEF supported vocational
training.
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