Japan pledges $4 million for eastern and southern Sudan

The Government of Japan has allocated $2 million to support the Community Stabilisation Programme of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in the southern border states of Sudan, and an additional $2 million for the creation of youth employment in eastern Sudan.

In a press statement today, UNDP in Sudan says that this generous contribution enables the UN agency “to support the Government of Sudan in initiating the implementation of the Community Stabilisation Programme in the southern border states, and in eastern Sudan through the creation of sustainable employment and earning opportunities for youth who are at risk of radicalisation and involvement in violence”.

The first project “Resilience to Mobilisation and Radicalisation of Youth through Community Stabilisation and Livelihood Support in the States Adjoining South Sudan” aims to contribute to the stability and resilience of unemployed Sudanese youth. Currently, the youth have the potential to be radicalised and mobilised to join the armed conflict in the six states of South Kordofan, Blue Nile, West Kordofan, White Nile, Sennar, and North Kordofan.

This project is expected to provide opportunities for alternative livelihoods to at-risk groups, particularly youth with armed conflict-carrying capacity who are unemployed but are considered vital resources in the southern states. Those states host refugees from South Sudan and displaced from local conflicts. Alternative livelihoods and temporary employment opportunities will be created to displaced and refugees through economic ventures.

Implementation of the project will be carried out in consultation with the effected communities and in partnership with the Sudan Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Commission and other relevant federal institutions, state-level line ministries, local authorities and locality commissioners as well as local NGOs and CBOs.

Eastern Sudan

The second project which the Government of Japan is providing funds to is “Stabilisation of Livelihoods through Creation of Youth Employment in Eastern Sudan”.

The ultimate goal of this project is to contribute to socio-economic stabilisation and conflict prevention with a specific focus on disadvantaged youth at risk to be radicalised and drawn into violence in the three eastern Sudanese states.

Providing economic infrastructure facilities in targeted communities, the project helps regenerate the economies of affected communities through connecting markets to local economic activities and bringing micro finance to the door steps of the communities, by creating an impact that is sustainable and durable, UNDP states.

The project will create synergies between the various activities and enhance the impact of their interventions through extensive participation of the various government bodies, micro-finance Providers and the private sector, and will utilise as much as possible these in-country capacities.

The project targets 3,000 least-advantaged young community members at risk, aged between 15 and 34. It focusses specifically on unemployed youth, women households, displaced, ex-combatants, returnees, and migrants.

The project will use the 3×6 Approach for Sustainable Employment Creation, an innovative employment creation methodology, which has three organising principles, inclusiveness, ownership, and sustainability, and six discrete steps, enrolment, rapid income generation, saving, joint venturing, investing and expanding markets.

“Japan has been a consistently solid partner of Sudan and UNDP and we look forward to continuing this strategic partnership for a better future of Sudan.”

The Japanese Ambassador to Sudan, Hideki Ito, referring to his experience of monitoring a similar community programme also funded by Japan in Blue Nile State, noted: “I was impressed how these community stabilisation projects can play a huge role, not only on individuals but on the whole community. I was very happy that Japanese assistance is contributing to realising self-reliance of the people in various fields.”

“I hope that the Japanese projects, with the cooperation of concerned Sudanese authorities will contribute to the stabilisation of the people and communities concerned and that these projects will lead to peace and stability of Sudan, and will enhance the friendly relations between Japan and Sudan,” he said.

Lt. General Salah El Tayeb, Commissioner-General of the Sudanese DDR Commission thanked “the government and the people of Japan for their unwavering and continuous support following last year’s contribution of U$2.5 million to the community stabilisation programme in the southern border states and we also recognise the support extended by UNDP in all our programmes.”

Marta Ruedas, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative said on the occasion that “Japan has been a consistently solid partner of Sudan and UNDP and we look forward to continuing this strategic partnership for a better future of Sudan.”