Background

The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in January 2005 marked the end of over 20 years of civil war in Sudan, and the beginning of the recovery and rehabilitation process in rural communities across the country. The war destroyed roads, electricity, schools, healthcare centres, and water points, and depleted natural resources. To help address these recovery challenges, the European Commission has re-launched its development assistance with a €50 million contribution to the Sudan Post-conflict Community-based Recovery and Rehabilitation Programme (RRP). The RRP is managed by UNDP, on behalf of the Government of National Unity (GoNU) and the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS).

The RRP is designed to link relief, rehabilitation and development in conflict-affected rural households across Sudan. From the outset, emphasis has been on building the capacity of the national and local institutions, civil society and communities, to ensure the sustainability of the process. The programme is implemented over a three-year period, by 48 national and international NGOs, pooled into ten consortia. These consortia receive funds for integrated rural development projects in ten areas across Sudan: River Nile, Port Sudan, Blue Nile, South Kordofan, Abyei, Upper Nile, Warrap, Eastern Equatoria, Central Equatoria, and Northern Bahr al Ghazal.

Objectives
•Targeting approximately 800,000 beneficiaries, the programme’s objectives include three components: capacity building and institutional strengthening; improving livelihoods; and providing support to basic services.
•The RRP aims to build the capacity of local government authorities (LGAs) through such activities as administrative and financial training, building and equipping administration offices, organizing village development committees and directly including LGAs in the management of RRP activities.
•To improve livelihoods, the RRP is building vocational centres, and training people in such activities as bicycle repair, tailoring, carpentry, and welding. The RRP aims to improve food security through agricultural training activities, and improving market structures and access routes.
•The RRP will improve people’s access to basic services such as access to water, healthcare, and education facilities.

Snapshots of the project's major achievements
Institutional Strengthening across the 10 projects’ locations
• The RRP has trained 2,222 local government authorities and community leaders in public administration;
• Created and reorganized 156 village development committees to enhance community leadership;
• Provided 782 people with training in peace-building/human rights/gender issues;
• Established 32 youth associations.

Improving Livelihoods across the 10 projects locations
• The RRP has trained 1,769 farmers and veterinarians in farming and veterinary techniques;
• Provided 23,765 households with agricultural inputs/tools to start food production;
• Vaccinated 92,613 animals/livestock;
• Built 18 grain banks and mills, which provide a cheaper and more accessible way for people to have their grain processed for cooking and baking;
• Benefitted 4,658 people from micro enterprise development activities.

Basic Services across the 10 projects locations
• The RRP has built or refurbished 403 water systems, including boreholes, wells, and water reservoirs;
• Refurbished or distributed 2,578 latrines;
• Trained 1,120 teachers to improve curriculum and the education system;
• Built 37 primary healthcare centers;
• Provided 2,242 with adult literary education.