February
2009: Over the past decade, civil
society organizations in Red Sea
State have become significantplayersindeliveringservicestoimprove
the lives of citizens despite their
limited resources and capabilities.
To map the profilesandexperiencesofcivilsocietyorganizations
in Red Sea State and assess their
ability to engage in strategic planning,
budgeting and monitoring of service
delivery, UNDP’s Poverty alleviation
project in partnership with UK Department
for International Development launched
a civil society mapping study in
Red Sea State
The
four month mapping exercise was
conducted by COWI’s consultants
with UNDP’s contribution to
the design of the study. According
to the final report, up until the
mid nineties only the Sudanese Red
Crescent and Beja Club organizations
were active in the state. As of
August 2008, the number of registered
community-based organizations and
NGOs exceeded 500, out of which
only a few are fully active. The
report also indicates that the state
counts some 50 NGOs, mostly based
in Port Sudan.
According to the report, the organizations’
ability to mobilize and manage resources
was a major weakness. Only 10 per
cent of the sampled organizations
possess excellent records in financial
procedures, five per cent are able
to mobilize resources, and less
than 15 per cent capable in mobilizing
internal resources from the local
community.
The report concludes that civil
society organizations are not in
a position to influence decision
making in the state. However, at
least four NGOs are relatively developed
and can stand as a good entry point
for the development of the civil
society in Red Sea State.
Other major findings of the civil
society mapping report include:
• Over 80% of the sampled
civil society organizations have
received training in certain development
issues;
• Civil society organizations
are interested in delivering services
in: education, water, income generation
activities, credit and microfinance,
environment conservation, advocacy,
natural resource management, and
humanitarian activities.
• Problems facing civil society
organizations are mostly linked
to laws and legislation restrictions,
limited resources, poor administrative
structures, lack of policies and
plans, low participation in decision
making and the negative impacts
of tribalism; poor coordination
and networking in and outside the
State.
UNDP’s Poverty Alleviation
project is funded by Denmark, The
Netherlands, and DFID.
