Mercy Corps - Building Resilience in Conflict-Affected Communities (BRAC)

Project completed

South Kordofan is one of the areas in Sudan were the armed conflict is temporarily halted, but not yet solved, and many communities are still suffering from its consequences. These communities are hosting significant numbers of IDPs and refugees from war torn South Sudan, who share the very limited available resources. The project aims at increasing the resilience of female and male members of vulnerable households to economic, social and climate related shocks through improved access to gender responsive basic services and increased agricultural production.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Sudan
Humanitarian Assistance & DRR
Climate change and environment
Gender
nothemedefined
Emergency food assistance
Disaster risk reduction DRR
Women’s equality organisations and institutions
01.02.2020 - 31.08.2023
CHF  1’500’000
Background Since mid-2016 clashes between government forces and rebels have ceased almost completely due to unilateral ceasefire declarations by both parties. Only since early 2017 access restrictions to some 168’000 IDPs and over 38’000 South Sudanese refugees in the government controlled areas were partly lifted. To be noted that a framework agreement for the delivery of Humanitarian Aid was signed in December 2019 between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the rebel faction based in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States (SKS and BNS). So far, with a strict no-camp policy in SKS, host communities have been forced to absorb the displaced and refugee populations and share their already scarce resources. Competition over access to the resources, and the limited availability of sustainable livelihoods, are potential triggers of conflict between displaced and refugee populations and vulnerable host community members.
Objectives Women, men, girls and boys in vulnerable households have increased resilience to economic, social and climate related shocks and stressors through improved access to gender responsive basic services and increased agricultural production.
Target groups 50’000 IDPs, returnees, refugees and vulnerable host community members in 10 conflict affected communities in South Kordofan State (around Kadugli, Abu Kershula and Rashad); out of it approx. 9’800 men, 10’200 women, 14’700 boys, and 15’300 girls.
Medium-term outcomes
  1. Households have improved levels of health and well-being.
  2. Households have increased and more climate resilient agricultural yields.
  3. Increased equality between men, women, girls and boys and increased access to basic protection services.
Results

Expected results:   Safe and equitable access to drinking water in sufficient quantity. Households adopt improved hygiene practices. Households have adequate sanitation infrastructure. Increased access to quality agricultural inputs for vulnerable households. Increased availability, general awareness and adoption of improved and climate resilient agricultural practices among vulnerable households. Increased access to financial services for vulnerable households. Increased awareness of gender-equitable norms, attitudes, and behaviours. Improved access to basic child protection and gender-based violence services.


Results from previous phases:  

Building on MC’s previous project this one aims to scale up its impact to reach more beneficiaries. This is drawn from the previous achievements, with humanitarian response reaching some 76’000 direct beneficiaries in 10 communities of SKS. This included 21’600 internally displace people and vulnerable host community members benefitting from provision of safe water, 19’000 women reached through established village savings and loans associations (VSLAs) and 46’500 individuals who got access to specific knowledge on protection protocols and gender principles.

MC’s proposed project will draw on key lessons learnt from the previous project implemented in South Kordofan: MC noted that the behaviour changes approach to addressing protection and gender related issues (e.g. early marriage and female genital mutilation) as result of traditional norms is one of the successful ways to promote dialogue within the communities on taboo subjects and harmful practices. Also, the establishment of village savings and loans associations (VSLAs) not only provided an opportunity for women to access alternative livelihood options but also created a forum for them to discuss and tackle protection and gender related challenges and issues.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Humanitarian aid
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
  • Other international or foreign NGO North


Coordination with other projects and actors The project will influence the project designing of other SDC implementing partners. The project has also the potential to improve humanitarian and ‘nexus’ coordination at South Kordofan State level, create synergies with other donors and partners interested in ‘nexus’ approaches, and influence policy and learning discussions around ‘nexus’ at Khartoum level.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’500’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’448’929 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   600’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   1’600’000
Project phases

Phase 2 01.02.2020 - 31.08.2023   (Completed)