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DE RUEHKH #1326/01 3271234
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O 231234Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4783
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001326
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
UN ROME FOR HSPANOS
NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI SMIG UN SU
SUBJECT: Preview of Sudan 2010 Humanitarian Work Plan
1. (U) Summary: On November 15, USAID attended a stakeholders'
conference providing a preview of the UN and partners 2010
Humanitarian Work Plan. The conference, chaired by Deputy Special
Representative of the UN Secretary-General (DSRSG) Ameerah Haq and
Commissioner of the Government of National Unity (GNU) Humanitarian
Aid Commission (HAC) Hassabo Abdel-Rahman, provided an opportunity
for humanitarian stakeholders in Sudan to discuss the humanitarian
response strategy for 2010. The conference was scheduled in advance
of the global launch of the Sudan Work Plan, scheduled to be held
along with other UN Consolidated Appeals Processes in Geneva on
November 30. End summary.
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2010 Sudan Humanitarian Work Plan
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2. (U) Donors, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
national NGOs, and UN representatives gathered on November 15 in
Khartoum for a preview of the 2010 Work Plan for Sudan. The Work
Plan is a tool developed by aid organizations to plan and monitor
responses to emergencies and appeal for funds cohesively, ensuring
that humanitarian assistance is coordinated, prioritized, and
effective. The Work Plan is the outcome of a two-month planning
process that included government counterparts at the national and
local levels, donors, UN agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
3. (U) In his opening remarks, HAC Commissioner Hassabo
acknowledged the contributions of donors and the work of
international and national NGOs in providing assistance to the
people of Sudan. Hassabo reported that the GNU line ministries were
satisfied this year with the level of coordination with the UN in
developing the work plan. Hassabo also underscored the need for
periodic updates on Work Plan progress by the UN after the launch.
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Funding Requirement
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4. (U) Sudan is home to the world's largest humanitarian operation.
The funding requirement for the 2010 Humanitarian Work Plan for
Sudan totals USD 1.9 billion, with 146 organizations participating
through 416 projects. The figure represents a nine percent decline
from 2009 funding requirements. According to DSRSG Haq, the planned
budget reduction is due to additional planned budget transfers from
the states. Darfur projects comprise approximately 55 percent of
the funding requirements in the 2010 Work plan, while 27 percent of
budgeted funding is designated for Southern Sudan and approximately
18 percent is designated for the Three Areas, the East, and the
North.
5. (U) According to Haq, Darfur and Southern Sudan, as well as areas
along the north-south boundary and pockets of the East, represent
the highest levels of vulnerability in Sudan. Conditions in
Southern Sudan deteriorated alarmingly in 2009, with 2,500 people
killed and more than 350,000 displaced as a result of violence.
Furthermore, food insecurity posed an additional threat, along with
localized flooding, poor access to services and environmental
degradation. Humanitarian partners in Sudan plan to base activities
on four over-arching strategies: saving lives and protecting
civilians; support for recovery and peace; advocacy for the
fulfillment of state responsibilities; and building official and
local capacity to respond to emergencies.
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Strategic Planning Process
--------------------------
6. (U) According to Haq, in an effort to streamline humanitarian
assistance, this year's Work Plan includes only humanitarian and
emergency activities, while building the foundation for recovery.
Development and recovery are addressed in the UN Development
Assistance Framework (UNDAF), a four year plan focusing on
longer-term goals established in 2008. Sector objectives for the
year are linked to the following four goals been identified for the
coming year's Work Plan activities:
a) Saving lives, protecting civilians, and supporting recovery.
This goal affirms humanitarian action's stated purpose, i.e. to save
and protect life. The goal recognizes that aid should augment
people's ability to recover from crisis in their home communities,
in areas of displacement or return. This requires protecting the
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environment and ensuring sound management of national resources.
(b) Doing no harm and contributing to peace. Aid workers are
obliged by this goal to understand how assistance could be harmful
and to recognize opportunities to help overcome conflict. The goal
commits aid agencies to conducting programs supporting peace and
reconciliation.
(c) Advocating for the government to meet state responsibilities.
This goal recognizes the primacy of government leadership in
ensuring that state responsibilities are met. Humanitarian action
supports this role and covers short-term gaps when necessary.
(d) Building the capacity of the government and civil society. This
goal reflects support for the government in achieving state
responsibilities, as well as for Sudanese civil society in the
attainment of humanitarian action through building local capacity to
respond to emergencies.
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Sector Approach
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7. (U) The work plan is organized according to eleven sectors with
overall responsibility for the humanitarian and early recovery
programs in the country. The sector structure helps ensure that
activities are coordinated and responsibilities are clearly defined.
The key sectors include (1) Basic Infrastructure and Settlement
Development (2) Common Services and Coordination (3) Education (4)
Food Security and Livelihoods (5) Health (6) Mine Action (7)
Non-Food Items and Emergency Shelter (8) Nutrition (9) Protection
(10) Return and Early Reintegration (11) Water and Sanitation. All
sectors integrate six cross-cutting issues into their programming:
camp coordination; early recovery; environment; gender; HIV/AIDS;
and returns and reintegration.
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Implementation Challenges
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8. (U) Haq underscored the need for full funding of program
requirements in order to enable humanitarian actors to provide
adequate, timely assistance. Such timely assistance will not only
to alleviate suffering but also safeguard hard-won gains that have
contributed to greater stability in the country. Haq also
acknowledged other elements that might contribute to the slow
implementation of the 2010 Work Plan, such as the overall security
situation in Darfur, which, according to Haq, has shifted from
"formal conflict" to banditry. The insecurity has increased
vulnerabilities and led to displacement. In addition, poor
infrastructure limits the access of vulnerable populations to
livelihoods and basic services. Haq also noted that food
insecurity, particularly in Southern Sudan, and the camp-based
population in Darfur both contribute to a reliance on food aid.
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Comment
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9. (SBU) USAID appreciates UN efforts to prioritize emergency and
humanitarian activities for the 2010 Work Plan in order to build the
foundation for recovery and longer-term goals. The Work Plan is
intended to refine strategic humanitarian interventions in a complex
and dynamic environment, with wide variations in vulnerability and
needs. However, while GNU line ministries have expressed
satisfaction with the consultation process in developing the 2010
Work Plan, humanitarian agencies have noted concerns regarding
whether the GNU will fulfill its financial commitments and have the
ability to provide adequate support for its share of the
humanitarian and recovery interventions. In addition, the UN and
other humanitarian partners must carefully consider and manage the
level of engagement of the line ministries to safeguard the
neutrality and independence of humanitarian response.
WHITEHEAD