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SUDAN - Aweil Integrated Recovery Program

Country:  SUDAN

Project Title:  Aweil Integrated Recovery Program

Project Number:  1516

The Need:

The large geographical area known as "the Highlands" of Aweil East, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, is one of the most under-served areas of Southern Sudan.  During the 22-year civil war, a large proportion of the population wad displaced, and since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in January 2005, the area has received a high number of returnees, placing additional strain on the already limited resources.  SSRRC (South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission) estimates that approximately 80,000 returnees have arrived in Aweil East and 20,350 are estimated to have settled permanently in the highlands.  The rate of returns increased rapidly in 2008 just ahead of the census, and the GOSS (Government of South Sudan) has continued to support a high rate of  returnees from Khartoum with a total of 300,000 expected to the State by the end of 2008.

The fragile situation was exacerbated in 2008 by renewed armed conflict.  From December 2007 to March 2008 there were violent clashes along the border between the Dinka and the Misseriya communities resulting in further population displacement.  Also, in May 2008, fighting in Abyei was reported to have displaced 50,000 people and some of these have arrived in Aweil East.  Tearfund is the only agency based in the Highlands of Aweil East and, due to its proximity to the border, periods of conflict between northern and southern elements increase operational risk and, at times, limit access.

Despite the signing of the CPA, basic infrastructure for health care, education, water, and roads are all lacking, causing massive unemployment, food insecurity, high levels of illiteracy, and poverty.  Frequent natural disasters such as floods, droughts, insecurity, and a lack of government structures have destabilized the already weakened local coping mechanisms.  As a result, high levels of malnutrition, disease outbreaks and a general lack of basic social amenities are normative experiences in the project area.  Among those highly affected are households with limited resources, largely measured in terms of number of livestock and possible kinship support structures.  Children under five years old, pregnant and lactating women, and the elderly are the most disadvantaged.

WRC's Response:

The objective of this project is to reduce vulnerability of rural populations in the Aweil East Highlands (Northern Bahr el Ghazal) to death and disease through strengthened local government and civil society structures to increase access to and utilization of safe sustainable water supply, sanitation and health services and to improve food security and livelihoods.

This project plans to provide sustainable development through the provision of primary health care services, establishment and strengthening of health systems, water and sanitation and food security in the Highlands of Aweil East County, Southern Sudan.  Over three years, this project will strengthen the position of local populations to provide for and assimilate returnees, capacity-build government at the local, provincial and state levels and support the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Project goals that have been set are as follows:

1.    4 primary health units & 1 Ministry of Health (MoH) run facility supported & equipped with adequate drugs, supplies and trained staff.

2.    Health education provided to patients at clinics and through other community structures.

3.    Ante-natal care, safe delivery and post-natal care provided.

4.    MoH staff trained, mentored and capacity build in the management and supervision of health facilities.

5.    BHCs trained and provided with ongoing support.

6.    CHD (County Health Department) capacity enhanced by sharing of information and simple management tools.

7.    Improved access to potable water for target community.

8.    Latrines being used in targeted communal locations and homes.

9.    Improved hygiene practice among target community.

10. MoPI (Ministry of Physical Infrastructure) capacity enhanced by sharing of information and simple tools.

11. Water Committees and Water Technicians trained and provided with ongoing support.

12. Agricultural extension workers and farmers trained in improved farming techniques.

13. 500 ox-ploughs distributed to farmers and the farmers trained in their use.

14. Livelihoods initiatives supported to increase food security.

15. Targeted seed and tool distribution to 15,000 vulnerable households.