International Rescue Committee, Sudan

The IRC seeks to provide urgent, lifesaving relief to people in critical situations across Sudan.

Overview

The International Rescue Committee is a world leader in relief, rehabilitation, protection, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. The IRC has been a major provider of humanitarian aid in Sudan for more than 20 years. They work across the country, delivering emergency relief, rehabilitation and development assistance, in addition to helping Sudanese refugees throughout the region.

The International Rescue Committee's Post-Conflict Development Initiative (PCDI) was created in 2002 to support conflict-impacted communities and countries in their transition to sustainable peace and development.

The nature of conflict in the world is changing, impacting communities in very different ways than past wars. Today's wars are primarily the result of broken totalitarian regimes or internal civil conflicts that actually target civilians. Today's political forces often use ethnic, nationalist or religious differences as the pretext or rationale for war. Countries are not only physically destroyed, but the human capital and social fabric are torn asunder. Because of these changing forces, assistance to war-impacted communities cannot solely consist of the provision of humanitarian assistance. Assistance must also attempt to restore physical and social infrastructure, as well as (re)build the social balance, trust, hope and confidence between people and their institutions. It is through these combined efforts that we can perhaps best help communities to stabilise and normalise toward sustainable peace.

The IRC’s goal is to meet immediate, lifesaving needs while improving Sudanese people’s ability to exercise their fundamental rights, access basic services, manage their own livelihoods, and enable individuals and communities to work towards accountable governance, stability and security through an active civil society. IRC’s overall programme approach is committed to laying a foundation for peace and development by facilitating durable solutions for IDP and war-affected communities. In an effort to decrease vulnerability and encourage recovery, IRC is promoting awareness of and respect for human rights, implementing peacebuilding and protection activities, and mobilising communities to build local capacity and civil structures, in addition to responding to ongoing health, shelter, and water/sanitation needs. IRC is also undertaking a large-scale emergency response to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

What services are provided?

Health programs, refugee advocacy and protection, programmes for children in armed conflict, emergency response, post-conflict development, resettlement, immigration assistance and anti-trafficking initiatives.

Geographical area of operation

Northern Sudan (GoS controlled), Northeast (from a base office in Eritrea), Southern Sudan.

Funding resources

• US Agency for International Development, Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)
• European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO)
• UK Department for International Development (DFID), both directly and through a sub-grant from GOAL
• Stichting Vluchteling and the Royal Netherlands Government
• European Commission Humanitarian Plus Programme, through a sub-grant from the Development Co-operation Ireland (DCI)
• UNDP
• UNICEF
• Comic Relief
• United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• British Embassy, Khartoum
• Japanese Embassy, Khartoum
• The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Other private donors including AmeriCares, The MacArthur Foundation, American Express Foundation, C. E. & S. Foundation, Flora Family Foundation, The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, and Robert P. Del Conte Memorial Fund Current IRC Donors in Darfur (Totaling US $18,582,475)
• US Agency for International Development, Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). Multi-sector $11,054,993 (Cooperative Agreement July 04 - January 06
• European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). Multi-sector $2,909,938 (March – October 05)
• UK Department for International Development (DFID). Multi-sector $3,827,941 (April 05 – March 06)
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Rule of Law $349,603 (March – August 05)
• TF/Private Funds: $440,000
• UNICEF. Donations in kind in water/sanitation and health sectors.

Primary National NGO Partners:

• AZZA Women’s Association
• Women’s Training and Promotion Society (WOTAP)
• Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRC)
• People’s Legal Aid Center (PLACE)

What new contacts would you like to make?

We would like to be put in contact with other peacebuilding initiatives and networks and to receive peacebuilding materials (eg. books) to distribute in all 12 locations in Sudan in which we are working.

Associated Organisations

IRC Sudan works with more than 80 community-based organisations, including the Friendship Agency for Community Training (FACT), the Sudanese Society for Disabled People, and the Women’s Development Group, to implement programme activities while emphasising local involvement and to build the capacity of Sudanese civil society.