Food Security

This initiative involves the provision of food security assistance to the vulnerable agro-pastoralist Murle and Nuer IDP populations in Sudan's Pibor County. COOPI provides training and skills to local communities so they can become agriculturally self sufficient and have access to safe, clean drinking water. The organisation emphasises the importance of hygiene and enviromental sanitation and in teaching vulnerable people how to build a successful community they can reduce the affects of the conflict.

Description

COOPI is dedicated to reducing poverty in the global South through interventions of long-term sustainable international cooperation, to fight the cause of the serious economic gap between the North and South of the world. The total number of direct beneficiaries has been estimated at 35,000 individuals, or 5,000 house-holds. In the context of the targeted area, all the inhabitants may be considered as vulnerable because of the conflict. However, in order to identify beneficiaries, the following priority criteria were set:

• Widows, returnees and IDP's (Internal Displaced People);
• Resource-poor who consume everything they harvest within the first 2 months;
• Elderly families or women-headed households.

Aims / Objectives

Main Objectives:
The project was created as a result of the critical situation in the country. People had to leave their villages, houses, and fields because of the war; this initiative is mainly addressing the refugees in Lekongole Payam. The principal objectives are to give those people a better future and a chance to live with dignity, contributing to protect the livelihoods of the local population in highly underserved areas. This in turn contributes to reduced excess mortality.

Specific objectives:
Improve the food security situation of vulnerable households in Lekongole Payam.

Expected results:

• Increased availability of self-produced food amongst the poorest households;
• Decrease in the incidence of disease and prevention of disease outbreaks amongst livestock;
• Improved water and environmental sanitation conditions, leading to reduced incidence of water-born or water-related diseases.

How it is Articulated

COOPI organise village meetings to improve sensitivity and awareness within the community, with the main goal to improve capacity building of farmers. They inform on the subjects of agro-forestry, vegetable production under irrigation, and post-harvest management.

They offer provision of farming and fishing materials, and promote poultry keeping and production. They provide information and training to the Village Livestock Committees (VLC). The VLC's work to mobilise the community to build creches for vaccinations, support vaccinators with food during vaccination campaigns, actively participate in the treatment of livestock, and report any outbreaks of disease. COOPI manage access to treatments and vaccines, and organise the training of 15 new Community Animal Health Workers (CAHW's), and refresher training for 25 CAHW's. The CAHW's are trained in the basic diagnosis and treatment of livestock diseases, and in conducting vaccination campaigns.

COOPI are also working on the construction of livestock watering troughs, trying to establish and maintain safe water points and conducting water quality analysis. They organise the training of 1 Operations and Maintenance Technician (OMT), and refresher training for 4 previously trained OMT's. They are also organising the formation of 10 new Water Users Committees (WUC's) and the re-orientation of 3 existing WUCs. The aim is to empower WUC members with the knowledge to enable the community to protect and manage their water sources. The role of the WUC's is:

• Mobilisation of the community for water-related hygiene - mainly drainage cleaning - and fencing;
• Reporting condition of boreholes to OMT's;
• Oversee and supervise work of the borehole caretaker.

COOPI teach and promote the importance good hygiene and the sanitation practices related to water, and organise the distribution of water storage containers.

Achievements / Learning Points

The project is currently sufficiently new as to have no achievements and learning points so far.

Geographical Area of Operation

Lekongole Payam of North Pibor County Jongley State, Upper Nile Region (Southern Sudan).

Funding Resources

ECHO (EU Humanitarian Aid Department)

Organisations Involved

COOPI maintains a good working relationship with the local and civil authorities on the ground, and with the representatives of the SRRC in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.