USAID/OTI Sudan Field Report December 2003
Program Description
Since 1983, an estimated two million Sudanese have died as a result of the protracted conflict, drought, and famine. In the past year, however, several positive developments within Sudan have occurred, providing new opportunities to finally resolve Africa’s longest war and move the country toward a lasting peace. In addition to several successful local-level, people-to-people peace processes, the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) appear to be on the verge of a peace agreement.
OTI’s work links ongoing peace processes to initiatives that promote increased participation of southern Sudanese in their governing structures. The OTI southern Sudan program has three main objectives: strengthening of key processes, mechanisms, and institutions for responsible governance and civil society development; increasing access to quality, independent information; and promoting processes, mechanisms, and institutions that foster peace and stability.
OTI’s program in southern Sudan supports activities in the following areas:
Independent Southern Sudan Media: Given the high levels of illiteracy in southern Sudan, radio is the most effective vehicle for relaying information about the peace process, general news, as well updates on humanitarian and development programming. With funding from OTI, the Educational Development Center (EDC) has established a short wave local-language radio service for southern Sudan that airs for two hours Monday-Friday.
Foster Demand for Good Governance: OTI’s efforts focus on strengthening the rule of law by increasing the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary and developing governance entities in southern Sudan. OTI has issued a grant to the British NGO Christian Aid to provide targeted assistance to the judiciary and critical civil society actors working to promote good governance.
Provide Rapid Targeted Support to Governance and Peace-building Efforts: Proposed OTI interventions in this area include the provision of technical assistance/capacity building to civil society groups and key sector governance bodies, and the implementation of community-identified priority projects to secure local peace agreements among citizens. OTI has contracted with the US-based NGO Pact, Inc. to create a small grants mechanism to implement such activities.
Country Situation
December has seen much activity in the Sudan peace process and there is every reason to be hopeful that this will continue. Progress has been made not only in North-South peace talks, but also in discussions and agreements with other opposition leaders. While these and other actions are positive signs that the parties are serious about signing a comprehensive peace agreement, there have also been some setbacks, notably in the Darfur region. Specifics include:
December 5
- A delegation from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) met with members of the Government of Sudan in Khartoum, the first visit of SPLA members to Khartoum in 20 years. The delegation was greeted by thousands at the airport and their historic visit was praised by Sudanese in general and Sudanese peace supporters alike.
- The GOS signs an historic agreement with the National Democratic Alliance, the main opposition group, in Jeddah Saudi Arabia. The agreement supports the current peace process and calls for a new democratic Sudan.
December 7
- Peace talks resume in Kenya between rebel leader John Garang and Sudanese Vice-President Ali Osman Taha. Discussions focus on wealth sharing.
December 8
- President Bush invites Sudanese rebel leader John Garang and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to Washington D.C. to sign the expected peace agreement.
December 10
- Chad President Idriss Daby visits Khartoum to discuss the worsening situation in Darfur, where estimates of dead and displaced range from the hundreds of thousands to 1 million.
December 18
- The European Union announces plans to formalize ties with Sudan as soon as the peace treaty is signed.
December 20
- An agreement was reached on oil sharing, with a 50-50 division between North and South. Comprehensive wealth sharing agreement expected soon.
December 29
- Sudan, Ethiopia, and Yemen form Anti-terror Axis and agree to fight terrorism in all its forms in their respective countries
USAID/OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
The Sudan Radio Service (SRS), implemented by OTI partner Edcuational Development Center, continued to provide news and information in nine languages to Sudanese in Sudan and the diaspora. Responses continue to be overwhelmingly positive, including an evaluation by the Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi calling the SRS “balanced and fair.” A Sudanese listener calls the SRS the “voice of the marginalized peoples and cultures of Sudan.”
On December 30, despite continued regulatory difficulties in Kenya, EDC began broadcasting four hours a day (up from two), including a new two-hour spot in the mornings. This increased time has coincided with new programming, including a civic education program entitled “The Road to Peace” and a new HIV series in the Dinka language called “The Rolling Fire.”
Also in December OTI, PACT, and EDC staff made a joint trip to Malual Kon in southern Sudan’s Bahr El Ghazal region where EDC staff recorded women singing songs with health and nutrition messages. The women were participants in the Tearfund Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Center and composed songs based on nutrition and health classes taught as part of its program. The first broadcast of songs was on SRS in December and more will be broadcast in coming months.
In other media work, OTI provided grant money for the Sudan Mirror to print supplements on peace and civil society. These supplements, to be added over the next three months, will highlight peace- related activities and focus specifically on security, self determination, refugees, disarmament, IDP’s, and arms.
The OTI/Sudan office in Nairobi has identified possible candidates for the position of program manager. Because of holiday schedules interviewing was delayed and the position is expected to be filled by early January. The new Sudan Field Office is completing its move from REDSO and will be housed in its own office space by early January.
B. Grant Activity Summary – USAID/OTI Afghanistan
At year’s end, the OTI/PACT South Sudan Transition Initiatives program had given 17 grants totaling over $535,000. Grants in December continued to support a variety of activities within the OTI strategic objective framework.
Grant Highlights:
- Funj women’s regional conference
- Messiriya, Reseigat, and Dinka peace dialogues
- Law reporting project
- Publication of peace and civil society supplements
PACT continued to work with the SPLM leadership on organizing the All-South Conference, which should take place early in 2004. A small grant for $35,000 to the steering committee supported initial preparations for what will be the largest conference ever held in the South. PACT has participated in steering committee meetings and will provide guidance where necessary in conference logistics and planning. The conference is intended to provide a wide and diverse audience with an opportunity to participate in the peace process, ratify a legal code, and create a civil authority structure as a foundation on which southerners can build their government.
OTI/Washington continues to work on a PACT contract modification that will allow for staffing increases. While the modification has not been completed, PACT remains ready to staff up both its headquarters in Nairobi and its field offices in Sudan. The PACT Kapoeta field office/camp is now complete and building of the field office/camp in Rumbek is underway. Both offices/camps are partially staffed and ready to be fully staffed as soon as authorization is given.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
- OTI staff to finalize the recruitment process for the new OTI/Sudan program manager.
- EDC and OTI will continue working to finalize agreements with the Government of Kenya that will facilitate work permits and tax free status to the radio station and its expatriate employees.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C: Bailey Hand, Sudan Program Manager, Tel: (202) 712-0795, bhand@usaid.gov
|
