SOS Sahel UK began working in Sudan in 1985. We have developed expertise in lowering tensions and increasing cooperation between herders and farmers, and in helping communities and local government improve their management of natural resources, such as forests, grazing land and water sources. In our current programme we are addressing the conflict between mobile herders and settled farmers over natural resources (trees, water and rangeland) in a context of institutional weakness and instability. This kind of conflict reduction work requires a patient and committed approach, but the consequences of doing nothing, as seen in Darfur today, are all too evident. Our activities in Kordofan to date have been supported by the United Nations.

Activities

In North Kordofan, we operate in Sheikan, Um Rowaba and Bara localities and we are expanding this work into new areas Nohud, Gabiesh, Abu Zabad and Wadbanedah, which lie on the border with Darfur. In South Kordofan, we currently operate in Rashad, Dilling and Kadugli.

In 2009, our activities include:

• Collecting and analysing base-line information concerning issues such as the incidence of conflict and experiences of successful conflict mitigation activities. The results will be shared widely with key agencies in Sudan in an effort to influence wider thinking and practice.
• Training, capacity building workshops and direct support to Pastoral and Farmers Unions, Community Associations and the Native Administration; enabling them to represent their members’ interests and engage with Government policy-makers.
• Training women (and youths) separately in conflict management and resolution skills to enable them to participate effectively in Peace Councils and on conflict resolution committees. In our experience, trained local mediators help conflicts to be resolved in a peaceful and timely way without recourse to formal courts or the use of firearms.
• Disseminating peace-building messages via TV and Radio broadcasts.
• Supporting community initiatives that promote shared management of natural resources, for example water supplies used by both settled farmers and mobile herders. Also the provision of community services such as re-planting of degraded rangelands and veterinary and vaccination services to complement the recovery of the area.
• Promoting this project’s approaches through key individuals in strategic positions, such as technical Government departments in the region, helping them to champion its ideas and approaches among a wider group of organisations.

Update

We are currently consulting nomadic women and youths in North and South Kordofan on their motivations for peace and war and the methods they use to influence conflict situations either way.

• Local Women & Youth Associations
• Local Pastoral & Farmers’ Unions
• Regional Government in Sudan
• Native Administration
• United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP)