Near East Foundation - A Way Out of Relief: Sudan's Blue Nile Project Creates a Model for Services and Capacity-Building in Transition States

With the signing of peace agreements by the Government of Sudan and southern rebels, decades of conflict are at an end and now the people of Sudan can resettle local communities and rebuild their lives. As a founding member and prime mover of New Beginnings, or more formally, the Consortium for Peace and Development in Sudan--the Near East Foundation is an important part of that process.

"New Beginnings reflects a positive outlook," according to NEF Project Director Ismail Sharief. "It is about helping individuals and communities move forward, away from conflict and out of poverty and deprivation." Joining NEF in the consortium are the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, headquartered in Saudi Arabia, Turath Organization for Human Development of Sudan, and other partner organizations.

New Beginnings focuses on the transition states of Sudan where over long years of conflict local control shifted repeatedly between government and rebel forces. Many residents were forced to flee their homes and most continue to live as internally displaced persons or refugees abroad. Others exist in isolated rural areas cut off from education and basic services. A majority lack the means for earning a living. Local institutions also are starved for resources, particularly human resources, for rebuilding the state and for helping people get on with their lives.

BLUE NILE STATE

Focus of the consortium's first pilot project and the most northern of Sudan's transition states, Blue Nile State has a population of over 750,000 and has been heavily affected by the civil war. Since 1987, it is estimated that between 115,000 and 165,000 people have left their homes, and many now live in and around the neighboring towns of Damazin and Rosaries, 550 kilometers south of the capital city of Khartoum. Another 50,000 people sought refuge in Ethiopia.

The impact of the civil war is evident in the deterioration of infrastructure and services, lack of government resources, and consequent instability and insecurity. Further, there is the fear that unemployed ex-combatants, roaming through towns and villages, will further destabilize the situation. Despite all, there is hope for the future, but also a growing suspicion and cynicism that change may be a long way off. "Hope seems to be fading as anticipated assistance from the international community has failed to materialize on the ground," the NEF Project Director reported after a recent visit to the area, adding, "Many agencies have come and gone, but few have been able to deliver on promises made."

MEETING THE CHALLENGE

For its part, New Beginnings aims to deliver by pursing two major thrusts. First is implementation of small pilot projects in conjunction with local partners for immediate assistance to individuals while simultaneously developing local talent and institutional capabilities. This way New Beginnings will provide relevant, practical, and demand-driven training and technical support for local institutions; with the longer term impact of developing the capacity of local institutions to design and implement larger, more effective, development projects.

This dual approach will give people in Blue Nile State an alternative to continued relief and emergency assistance, equipping them with the tools, technical expertise, and financial assistance required to move towards greater, more sustainable self-reliance for themselves and their communities. In short, the Blue Nile Project is a model for service provision and capacity-building in transition states.

Activities will include leadership development and capacity building with local institutions; grants for community services and self-help initiatives; skills training; access to capital for individual income-generating activities; and a website to share information and results with contributors and interested parties.

Initially the project will focus on two of the state's five localities. It is expected that the lives of at least 5,000 people per year will be fundamentally improved. Cost per individual beneficiary is estimated at $175.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

Speaking from Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdulwahab Noorwali, director of the World Assembly of Moslem Youth, said the Blue Nile Project represents an important collaboration between international and local agencies with vastly different backgrounds and interests, and with unique capacities and abilities to contribute. "We see this as a significant attempt to work together for the benefit of others," he summed up.

For NEF, New Beginnings represents a further step towards broader participation and partnership, and an opportunity to expand existing relationships and learn from others, according to Roger Hardister, NEF's Regional Director. "We're convinced that building genuine and effective partnerships that focus on longer-term and more systematic work with local people is key to helping people help themselves. Our previous experience with our partner organizations in other countries is a good indication of this," he concluded.