Background

Women Associated with Armed Forces WAAF are a distinct special needs group eligible for DDR in Sudan as part of the SDDRP according to the National DDR Strategic Plan. Despite not having held combative roles within armed groups, WAAF are recognized in the SDDRP as well as in the CPA due to the support services they provided to the military and armed groups which were essential to the maintenance and cohesion of the armed groups. WAAF are also recognized given the close inter-reliance between themselves and the military. Because many WAAF traveled with armed groups, and relied on the military structure for subsistence, as opposed to the civilian community, they have been excluded from social support mechanisms. WAAF do not receive a military salary thus rendering them especially vulnerable in the interim period. Disputes over WAAF have also proven to be a cause of insecurity amongst regular forces awaiting demobilization, thus underscoring the urgent need to reintegrate WAAF into civilian life. Unofficial reports from the two major violations of the CPA, in Malakal in December 2006 and in Abyei in May 2008, indicate that disputes over WAAF associated with members of the Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) were triggers for the violence.

The current project is part of the overall reintegration component of the Sudan DDR Programme (SDDRP) for Sudan 2009-2012. Within the overall context of the SDDRP, this project component focuses on the economic and social reintegration for 445 women in Blue Nile State, from planning to implementation and monitoring and evaluation. It directly contributes to CPA implementation and paves the way to future human security, reconstruction and development activities.

This pilot project was funded by BCPR particularly due to the importance of WAAF in DDR and peace and security projects, as well as to support global lessons learned on Gender and Reintegration and Psychosocial Reintegration.

The objectives of the project are to:
1. Provide social, psychosocial and economic reintegration, including counseling and referral services to 445 WAAF in Blue Nile State and civilian women.
2. Consolidate lessons learned and best practice on WAAF reintegration, contributing to the implementation of the SDDRP and global knowledge management on gender and DDR.


Snapshots of the project's major achievements

1) Capacity Development through workshops for UNDP and the Joint DDR Commission staff in Blue Nile State on Gender, HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health, Gender Based Violence, Public Information and Reintegration was conducted in May 2010
2) Multiple cycles of Vulnerabilities and Capacities (V&C) or gender assessments, have been conducted from January through September 2010. Information from the assessments has fed into real time project changes to accommodate issues arising from WAFF. The FGDs revealed gaps in key life skills which were used to formulate a Civilian Training Package comprised of 10 topics to supplement these gaps as well as to develop a literacy and food processing project.
3) Information Counseling and Referral Services have been provided to 90% of WAAF and Female Ex-combatants
4) Economic Packages have been provided to 445 women, through FAO (Agriculture and Livestock), JASMAR (Small Business), FPDO (Agriculture and Livestock),, IPDO (Agriculture and Livestock), and Mubadiroon (Agriculture and Livestock),, including training by implementing partners, a material package, and follow up support to ensure sustainability of livelihood
5) A Psychosocial low literacy Counseling Manual was developed in January 2011. A Psychosocial radio drama was developed in January 2011 and begun airing in BNS in March 2011. A training of 102 Community Counselors from all 6 localities to provide Psychosocial support was provided in March 2011. Training with Damazin hospital health care providers on Harvard Psychosocial screening/Hopkins checklist on Psychosocial trauma was conducted in March 2011.
6) Civic Education Manual development (Leadership/Citizenship, Conflict Resolution, Human Rights/Women’s Rights, First Aide, Malaria/Diseases, Nutrition, Hygiene/Sanitation, Reproductive Health/Parenting, HIV/AIDS and STIs) was conducted from October – November 2010. A month long Training of Trainers (ToT) for 30 trainers was conducted in Damazin in December 2010. Starting in February 2011, roll out Civic Education package to all localities for 1296 women (650 Female Ex-combatants, 445 WAAF, and 200 Civilian Women) commenced through a community based approach
7) Literacy and Food Processing circles for 200 WAAF, Female Ex-combatants and Community Women were established in 4 communities in Blue Nile State. All women have learned the Arabic alphabet and basic words, nutrition and food processing, including marketing skills and pricing for selling produces in local markets
8) 2 Peacebuilding Days for WAAF, Female Ex-combatants and Community Women have been held in each of the 4 communities of the Literacy and Food Processing circles, including drama, singing, games, food (learned in class) and literacy games
9) Reproductive Health: training for Healthcare providers on Clinical Management of Rape was conducted in March 2011, assessment of VCCT sites was conducted in February 2010, and peer educators training
10) Capacity Development and Technical Support on Gender for North Sudan DDR Commission is an ongoing activity being conducted