Sudan—Transition Initiative

DAI managed small grant activities to strengthen Sudan’s transition to democratic and civilian rule, and and worked to improve stakeholder understanding and implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005. In North Sudan, the project sought to broaden popular engagement with the CPA, which included developing an understanding of human rights, building the capacity to monitor and seek redress for abuses, and broadening access to information through independent media. In Darfur, the project supported civil society partners working to protect civilians displaced by the conflict, especially women and girls subjected to sex and gender-based violence. From 2006 to 2008, we worked to deepen understanding and facilitate implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement via the African Union and local partners. Because of U.S. Government sanctions on Sudan, the project was prohibited from working directly with government partners in North Sudan. In the 10 states of the Government of South Sudan and two of the three transitional areas, DAI enhanced public confidence in the CPA and the new government.

Sample Activities

• Support emerging civil authorities.
• Provide opportunities for peaceful dialogue among communities.
• Engage civil society in support of the peace process.
• Increase availability of reliable, independent information.
• Protect vulnerable populations in Darfur.
• Provide essential services for returning populations.

Select Results

• Strengthened authentic civil society organizations in Darfur by providing them with funds to carry out projects and by passing on project design and implementation skills.
• Implemented infrastructure projects in support of the CPA and the Government of Southern Sudan in a challenging environment when no other agency or funding provider had been able to mobilize and where almost no local contracting capacity exists.
• Provided “office in a box “ kits to eight of the 10 states in the Government of Southern Sudan, two of the three state governments in the transitional areas, and to four United Nations Development Programme Justice and Confidence centers in North Sudan within a couple of months.
• Developed water and sanitation services in key urban centers in South Sudan through the provision of water pumps, leak detection equipment, sedimentation tanks, and water treatment chemicals, as well as through the repair of boreholes.
• Provided opportunities for women survivors to be treated and rehabilitated; created safe spaces for women to meet and develop economic skills and self-esteem.