Background

Sudan has experienced one of the longest civil wars in Africa, which was brought to an end with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) by both The Government of Sudan and Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) on 9 January 2005. As part of an overall CPA implementation process, both sides have committed to a transparent and effective Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) processes which will support the transition of ex-combatants (XCs) and associated members from military to productive civilian life aimed at ensuring a secure, stable and peaceful Sudan. The National DDR Coordination Council was established by presidential decree to oversee the DDR process at the highest policy level followed by the formation of the Northern and Southern Sudan DDR Commissions to lead design and implementation of the DDR process.

As part of its role in supporting the implementation of the CPA, The United Nations Mission in Sudan, (UNMIS) was mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 1590 (24 March 2005) to assist in the establishment of the DDR programme and its implementation. In this context, the Integrated UN DDR Unit (UNMIS, UNDP, UNICEF, WFP and UNFPA) has been established within UNMIS to assist the relevant national institutions in the DDR process. UNDP takes the lead in support the implementation of the Reintegration component of the programme.

The Sudan DDR Programme (SDDRP) outlines a DDR programme for 180.000 XCs and associated members (90,000 SAF and 90,000 SPLA), which is part of the CPA implementation and paves the way to future human security, reconstruction and development activities.

Guided by the National DDR Strategic Plan (NDDRP) and National Reintegration Policy, the UNDAF, the DDRP also aims at contributing to North Sudan’s Strategic five year plan (2007-2011) and South Sudan’s Three Year Strategic Plan for recovery and development which emphasizes the effective and sustainable reintegration of XCs, while recognizing the need to support Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in all recovery and development spheres.

Specifically, the objective of the SDDRP is to provide direct support to the eligible participants to facilitate their reintegration into civilian communities. Due consideration is given to promoting community security and social cohesion through capacity development at local and national levels to ensure sustainability of the reintegration effort by:
• Supporting the social, economic, psychological and political reintegration of XCs and associated members, inclusive of all categories targeted and eligible for DDR from SAF and SPLA.
• Enhancing the capacity of relevant institutions to ensure sustainable reintegration of XCs.
This programme focuses on the reintegration of XCs and associated members including Special Needs Groups (SNGs) who meet the eligibility criteria, and links with other national recovery and priority programmes aimed at returnees, internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host communities to ensure community security and social cohesion and long term reintegration of XCs.

The programme design and implementation derives from a participatory methodology and benefits from a partnership approach and is jointly implemented by Government and UNDP, whereby the input of financial support, policy insight and programmatic oversight flows from a range of government partners, international stakeholders, development agencies, donors, NGOs, civil society organizations and the international financial institutions.

The primary responsibility for the positive outcome of the DDR process rests with national and local actors who are ultimately accountable for the peace, security and development of Sudan. In this context, the DDR process is nationally owned and led, with the reintegration component of the DDR programme following the UNDP finance and procurement rules with a total value of USD 358,143,959 over the course of its life (2008-2011)

Snapshots of the project's major achievements

In 2012, DDR:
1. 21,227 DDR Participants fully reintegrated and are now living a civilian life.

2. Basic skills in livestock management provided to demobilised DDR participants in SKS, BNS and CS by the state ministries of Animal Resources via contractual obligations of implementing partners.

3. Basic training in the establishment and management of Small Business provided by the University of Dilling to demobilised DDR participants in SKS via IPs contractual obligation.

4. Safe drinking water provided to Manza community in BNS and Dilling community in SKS

5. Health facility made available to Zindia and Agadi communities in BNS

6. One school provided to each of Mazmum community in Sinnar state and Al Makarr community in North Kordofan state, the schools also acts as community centre for these communities.

7. Organisational skills of women developed in the management and implementation of development programmes.

8. support provided in the registration of newly created women’s associations with the ministry of Social Affairs which legalised their status for handing social reintegration activities

9. Skills of women developed to enhance transition of social reintegration projects as part of exit strategy

10. Strengthened partnerships on gender responsiveness and sustainable of social reintegration projects via implementing partners