USAID/OTI Sudan Field Report
October 2004
Program Description
OTI’s programming in Sudan works to link ongoing peace processes, at the local and national level, to initiatives that promote increased participation of southern Sudanese in their governing structures. The four main objectives of the OTI southern Sudan program are to: support the emergence of responsive, effective, and inclusive civil authorities; restore the conditions of peace within and among communities through support of opportunities for peaceful dialogue; assist in the emergence of an empowered and active civil society; and, increase access to quality, independent information.
OTI’s implementing partners are PACT and Educational Development Center (EDC). PACT manages the Southern Sudan Transition Initiative (SSTI), which is a two-year small grants program that focuses on promoting and supporting good governance, local-level peace initiatives, the development of civil society and an informative and balanced media. EDC has established the Sudan Radio Service which is a short-wave radio station that transmits six hours of programming daily on current events, civic education, health and culture in nine languages.
Country Situation
Peace Talks Adjourn With Some Success – According to IGAD’s chief mediator Lazaro Sumbeiwayo, there was considerable narrowing of differences between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in negotiations on a final comprehensive peace agreement. "The two parties recommitted themselves to finalizing and concluding the comprehensive peace agreement in recognition that prompt completion of the peace process is essential for all the people of the Sudan as it will help in resolving all challenges facing the country," said Sumbeiywo.
Both parties agreed that the technical committee on the cease-fire negotiations will continue to discuss and resolve any remaining issues including the funding of the armed forces and timing of incorporating and integrating other armed groups into their respective structures of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and SPLA/M. Talks are expected to resume on December 11.
UN Warns of Pending HIV/AIDS Crisis – The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned in a recent report that a large influx of returnees into southern Sudan could lead to further spread of HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that the virus already affects 2.6 percent of the adult population in the region. As a result of years of isolation during the war, rural communities have traditionally retained low infection rates. However, UNICEF’s Regional Advisor on HIV/AIDS David Alnwick worries that increased mobility could elevate HIV infection among this group. In addition, there is a general lack of HIV/AIDS awareness among the population and a high HIV prevalence in some garrison towns.
USAID/OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
With increasing optimism that a final comprehensive agreement will be signed by the end of the year, there has been more focus by international NGOs on the challenges of an expected influx of returnees and IDPs into southern Sudan. In October, OTI supported two grants that address the issue of IDP and returnee movements with an emphasis on civil society involvement and peace/reconciliation.
The first was awarded to the Joint Integration and Rehabilitation Support Team (JIRRST) to continue with phase four of the Bor Mundri IDP and Cattle Camp Return project. In the previous phases, the team worked on resolving conflict between the host Mundri community and the displaced Bor Dinka who fled fighting in the Upper Nile region more than a decade ago. The team also worked with community leaders and international organizations to coordinate the return of vulnerable 1,400 IDPs and their cattle back to Upper Nile. In phase four, the team will carry out community level dialogues between the cattle camps chiefs and various host communities along the route and continue to coordinate with international and national donors for assistance with animal and human health services.
The second grant was awarded to the Maridi Student’s Association to carry out participatory research and gather information on returnees arriving in Maridi County in Western Equatoria. The group will work closely with chiefs and local administrators, including the Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SRRC), to establish an estimated number or returnees and to examine issues around land use, resource sharing, absorption capacity of local communities and conflict resolution.
Also during October, two grants were awarded to the Pankar Peace Council for continued support to grassroots-based conflict resolution mechanisms. With support from OTI, the Pankar Peace Council has been instrumental in providing rapid response to conflicts over cattle and grazing rights that have arisen among ethnic communities in the Bar El Ghazal region. One output from the numerous community peace dialogues was the recommendation that communication points at four strategic locations be established in order to set up early warning systems. An OTI grant provided technical and organizational training to radio operators responsible for informing communities about potentially volatile situations. An additional grant was awarded the Pankar Peace Council to facilitate a follow-up meeting for chiefs and traditional leaders to develop a framework to address the causes of conflicts identified in previous meetings.
In September, OTI awarded a grant to the South Sudan Law Society (SSLS) for a comprehensive training and assessment of the organization. The findings of the assessment were presented at SSLS General Assembly meeting in October, which determined its future leadership and mission. Key issues discussed included a review of the SSLS constitution, programming activities and financial reports. In addition, SSLS looked to the future and examined whether it should become a bar association or evolve into a human rights organization. OTI’s support to SSLS has been critical to the development of a civil society institution contributing to a culture of justice and accountability in southern Sudan. OTI was able to attract co-funding from Britain’s Department for International Development (Dfid) and UNDP for this meeting.
In the area of media and access to information, OTI awarded a grant to the African Educational Trust (AET) to establish 45 radio listening groups in southern Sudan. Facilitators will be trained and provided with radios and toolkits to work through activities with participants. The activity was born out of discussions between OTI, Sudan Radio Service (SRS) and AET to identify ways to maximize the impact of SRS’ radio programming. This pilot project will not only enhance the learning of participants but also provide valuable feedback to SRS on programming content and quality.
B. Grants Activity Summary
| Promote emergence of responsive, effective and inclusive civil authorities |
1 |
$10,850 |
23 |
$1,132,940 |
| Provide opportunities for peaceful dialogue within and among communities. |
3 |
$71,795 |
34 |
$1,897,606 |
| Promote the emergence of an empowered and an active civil society |
2 |
$40,820 |
25 |
$795,578 |
| Increase availability of quality, independent information |
1 |
$43,704 |
13 |
$4,159,489 |
| Total |
7 |
$167,168 |
95 |
$7,985,613 |
C. Indicator of Success
In July 2004, renewed conflict between militias allied with the GoS and the SPLM had a devastating impact on the communities living in the town of Pibor in Eastern Equatoria. The conflict drove out all humanitarian organizations (including MEDIC and COOPI) and severely limited the ability of community members to access basic services (health, education, food, etc.). OTI supported the return of the two key religious leaders who were successful in mitigating conflict during the occupation by GoS forces and were able to convince all troops to withdraw from Pibor, thus opening up the town to humanitarian support. Not only did the activity prevent what was sure to be a violent conflict likely to displace 20,000-40,000 people, but it also restored community peace and international NGO confidence to return to the area to provide basic services.
 |
| Members from the SPLM and OTI welcomed the walkers to Riwoto with a feast and celebration. |
A new sense of peace and security is emerging between the Buya and Toposa ethnic groups in Eastern Equatoria thanks to a recent series of tribal meetings supported by OTI. Plagued by a lack of security due to cattle raiding and violent disputes over natural resources, Budi (Buya) and Kapoeta (Toposa) counties have seen the withdrawal of support from numerous aid agencies in recent years.
OTI issued a grant to a Sudanese NGO, Galcholo, to hold a series of peace and reconciliation meetings between the Buya and Toposa ethnic groups in mid-October. Drawing more than 1,300 participants over a three-day period, the meetings involved representatives from the SPLM, county authorities, community-based organizations, religious groups, and international NGOs. In addition, elders and villagers from Kapoeta town, Machi, Paringa, Riwoto and Kimotong participated in the discussions. The surge of support for these meetings sparked a spontaneous follow-up peace dialogue in Kimotong just days later that drew 3,000 participants, including 800 women.
As a symbol of reconciliation, 21 representatives from both communities, including warriors, elders and Galcholo staff, walked the entire 42 km route at the close of the meetings. Members from the SPLM and OTI welcomed the walkers to Riwoto with a feast and celebration.
D. Program Appraisal
OTI Sudan’s program faced some challenges in implementing the national dissemination of the Naivaisha Protocols. The final authorization expected from the SPLM officials took two months to materialize causing major delays in the project. It is hoped approval will be received in early November paving the way for a coalition of Sudanese NGOs to disseminate the Protocols throughout southern Sudan.
The OTI Sudan program is continuing to examine methods of improving collaboration and communication with the various programs of the Sudan Field Office (SFO). In November, OTI will begin to send out copies of grants for comments/concurrence from SFO colleagues. Because of the need for OTI programming to be fast and flexible, feedback must be received within 48 hours.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
- Implement internal SFO concurrence system for OTI grants.
- OTI team to attend SFO retreat in Addis Ababa.
- Conduct monitoring and evaluation of completed OTI projects in southern Sudan.
- Prepare for internal Mid-Term Program Review.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C: Nhelly Saleh, Sudan Program Manager, Tel: (202) 712-0795, nsaleh@usaid.gov
|
