United Nations Development Programme
Project Proposal
Country: SUDAN
Project Title
Support for Displaced People, Returnees
Communities
and their
Outcome(s):
Peace dividends are delivered for sustainable return,
reintegration and recovery under an enabling environment
that guarantees security and rule of law
Expected Output(s):
Output 1: Capacities of the paralegal associations and
traditional justice mechanisms enhanced to create enabling
environment for safe and sustainable return of IDPs and
vulnerable people.
Output 2: Basic services and infrastructure restored/improved
to support returns and reintegration
Implementing Partner:
UNDP
Responsible Parties:
UNDP
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Executive Summary
 Project Duration: March – November 2013 (9 months)
 Total Budget: USD 1 million
 Project Location: South Kordofan (Lagawa, Kadugli and Dilling) and Abyei Area
The project for “Support for Displaced, Returnees and their Communities” will address urgent needs crated by
displacement by focusing on providing durable solutions. The project will aim to deliver peace dividends for
sustainable return, reintegration and recovery under an enabling environment that guarantees rule of law.
The projects will target the whole of Abyei Area and three localities of South Kordofan State. Below is a table
with indicative number of beneficiaries:
Area / locality
Abyei
# of returnees / Remarks
displaced
30,000
This numbers exclude host communities and persons who were not
displaced but they can still get benefits from the services.
Lagawa
3,453
Kadugli
45,355
Dilling
7,720
Total
86,528
It is anticipated that the number of beneficiaries shall increase as
more returns expected after a series of peace agreements
implemented.
While for Abyei, the number reflects projected returnees by June
2013, the numbers of South Kordofan reflect the people affected
by the conflict and displaced.
Output 1: Capacities of the paralegals associations and traditional justice mechanisms enhanced to create
enabling environment for safe and sustainable return of IDPs and vulnerable people
The project will improve the capacity of the traditional judges and paralegals to offer better access to justice for
the returning residents of Abyei and South Kordofan. Through training of judges and paralegals, improving as
well as equipping traditional court and paralegal centers with materials and infrastructure, the informal justice
mechanism will be enabled to offer better conflict resolution among the communities in Abyei and South
Kordofan.
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Output 2: Basic services and infrastructure restored/improved to support returns and reintegration
The project will engage in restoration and improvement of critical community infrastructure related to
education which will support the returnees and host communities.
I.
Background and Project Rationale
South Kordofan State and Abyei Area, like most parts of Sudan have had unprecedented effects of the
decades-long war. Located along the border of Sudan and South Sudan, between Northern Bahr al Ghazal,
Warrap and North Kordofan and South Darfur, the two (South Kordofan and Abyei Area) are characterized by
limited access to justice, large scale banditry, high criminal, activity, and law enforcement shortfalls. Judicial
institutions were compromised by the conflict and are now facing severe operational and institutional deficits.
Customary and traditional dispute resolution mechanisms are also facing challenges. The existing rule of law
infrastructure is dilapidated and inadequate and customary and traditional dispute resolution mechanisms have
been eroded, marginalized, or incapacitated. Specially in Abyei where very weak civil administration and there
exists national political disputes over its administrative status as well as local disputes over grazing rights that
have served to entrench divides between the Dinka Ngok and Misseriya communities (Reference map below
courtesy of UNDP CRMA, 2011).
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For Abyei Area, by way of a special protocol, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA, 2005) granted a
special administrative status and that a referendum should have taken place in January 2011. However, due to
the high level of controversy on the issue, the referendum did not occur. On 20 May 2011, in the lead-up to the
South Sudan referendum, Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) occupied Abyei forcefully, displacing an estimated
110,000 people, essentially affecting the entire population, who fled across the River Kiir/Bahr el Arab towards
Agok and further south. People fled with few or no belongings and dispersed into Twic County in Warrap State,
as well as to Unity, Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal states and as far as Juba in Central Equatoria State,
with the majority in Twic County and in the Agok area. In late June 2011, the UN Security Council Resolution
1990 established the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) with the mandate –among
others- to “facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the free movement of humanitarian personnel in
coordination with relevant Abyei Area bodies”. In addition, under Chapter VII of the Charter of the UN, the
mission is tasked to ensure security in the CPA box, to ensure freedom of movement of UN and humanitarian
personnel and to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence. The force is now fully deployed at
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strength of about 4,200 personnel and creating a condition for displaced people to return. Therefore the timing
is critical to address residents’ and returnees’ humanitarian and recovery needs particularly security and social
and physical infrastructure. It is said that the remaining 56,000 have not decided to return because of security
concerns and access to basic services (Sudan United Nations and Partners Work Plan 2013).
In South Kordofan, the resumption of armed conflicts soon after the gubernatorial election in June 2011
severely disrupted the life of the people in the area. Data available to the humanitarian community in South
Kordofan observe that as of October 2012, 231,055 people were affected and displaced in 16 out of the 19
localities (now sub-divided to 24) and are in urgent need for resettlement as access and security improves in
most parts of the State. However the human security environment has to be concurrently improved as
institutional and operational gaps by security enhancing agencies gets challenged by criminal activity,
continued low-intensity tribal conflict in some parts and a lack of confidence in an impartial rule of law system
amongst much of the population.
In line with the Addis Ababa Agreement, the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) has been established.
AJOC has emphasized the need for safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons, facilitation of the
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transition from humanitarian assistance to recovery, sustainable settlement and self- sustaining development
while providing security to the nomads. Furthermore, AJOC has stressed on the need for inter-community
dialogue which should pave way for peaceful co-existence and reconciliation. AJOC also noted the importance
of formation of Abyei Police Service for maintaining law and order in Abyei area, hence the need for a
framework for the establishment of the police service and that shall form a framework for partnership with the
United Nations and African Union on the requirements for the establishment of Abyei Police Service and
guaranteeing secure environment for return of IDPs.
In South Kordofan, while challenges remain, recent political developments provide room for optimism. The
African Union, the League of Arab States and the UN tabled a joint proposal (the Tripartite Agreement) to the
Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) to enable humanitarian
access to conflict-affected civilians including those in SPLM-N held areas. The Tripartite Agreement was signed
by both in early August 2012 and negotiations regarding its implementation are ongoing. In addition to the
agreement on oil, the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan also signed a number of other economic, trade
and security related agreements, which allow for the establishment of a demilitarized border zone between
both countries and a cessation of all hostilities. An agreement was also reached on the ‘four freedoms’
principles which grants nationals of Sudan and South Sudan the freedom to reside, move, acquire and dispose
of property, and to undertake economic activities in both states. The four freedoms agreement is designed to
encourage positive interaction between the peoples of both countries and to build social and economic ties that
will enhance relations between both states.
II.
Project Strategy
Building on existing interventions
UNDP has an early recovery framework upon which programmatic components are developed and this falls
within the four components below:
i)
Strengthening rule of law institutions and mechanisms including paralegal associations to guarantee
access to justice for returnees. Under this component, efforts will target the paralegals associations
(JCCs), traditional justice mechanisms, including courts and judges;
ii) Stabilization of livelihoods and food security for returnee IDPs through improved food security, income
generation and emergency employment, including reintegration of ex-combatants and support to
voluntary IDP returns;
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iii) Strengthening capacities of Local Government, CSOs/CBOs for services delivery including education
and health services. Such support includes to assess, plan and deliver recovery support effectively and
systematically thus restoring public confidence in them and a culture of accountability;
iv) Build capacities to mitigate and resolve community level conflict, improve community security and
promote reconciliation and social cohesion.
Accordingly this project will build on an existing intervention framework by UNDP in the area of return and
recovery of IDPs. Through three projects – “Strengthening Access to Justice and Human Security in South
Kordofan,” “Support to Abyei Area Administration” and “Support to the Recovery of Abyei,” UNDP has been
supporting critical needs of IDPs and returnees, among others:

Improvements in infrastructure: largely of construction of classes in the police training schools in
Kadugli, South Kordofan; renovation of prison cells and offices in Kadugli; construction of Abyei Area
Administration; construction of the Abyei Legislative Assembly thus facilitative institutionalization and
services delivery.

Established and supported 4 paralegal associations (Justice and confidence centres -JCCs) including
training about 84 paralegals who have since remained and maintained resilience as far as human rights
awareness, extension of legal aid, mediation & resolution of conflicts, and documentation of human
rights abuses are concerned.

Rehabilitation of 2 schools in Goli and Diffra (North of Abyei town), construction of market shops and
stores in Agok (South of the River Kiir) and Rumamier (North of the River Kiir).
This project will consolidate some of the gains achieved by the above projects. It will support the paralegal
associations to improve access to justice by strengthening traditional justice mechanisms to resolve intercommunal as well as intra-communal conflicts for the IDPs in return areas hence an enabling environment for
displaced people’s durable solutions. It will also provide for short-term stabilization of the basic services to
returnee households and host communities with focus on construction of classrooms and rehabilitation of a
school (including latrines for both girls and boys) for returnees and host communities. It will also support for an
enabling social environment that promotes social cohesion inclusive planning and prioritization of needs and
joint action between returnees and host communities.
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Conflict Sensitivity
Given that conflict in Abyei and South Kordofan has been exacerbated by national political disputes, tribal
grazing disputes, a conflict-sensitive implementation and rights-based approaches will be adhered to
throughout the planning and implementation processes of the return interventions and other early recovery
interventions. The project will seek technical support in this area from the Joint Conflict Reduction Programme
implemented by UNDP and IOM in South Kordofan and Abyei.
III.
Project Outputs and Activities
The overall outcome to this project is to deliver dividends for sustainable return and recovery under an enabling
environment that guarantees rule of law.
In order to attain the above outcome, the project will work towards achieving the following two outputs:
Output 1: Capacities of the paralegal associations and the traditional justice mechanisms enhanced to
create enabling environment for safe and sustainable return of IDPs
The component is critical to secure for the IDPs in return areas hence an enabling environment for displaced
people’s durable solutions.
The project will construct traditional and people’s courts, provide selected
equipment, train paralegals to provide legal aid, reach out to the IDPs, communities with awareness and
training on human rights.
Traditional justice system
Traditional justice and alternative justice mechanisms have existed in many communities in Sudan and in Abyei
and South Kordofan, it continues to function quite impressively alongside formal justice system. However,
instability and poor access in these areas make it difficult to provide prompt and impartial formal judicial
services. In places such as Abyei, the problem is further compounded by the diabolic nature of the correct
judicial orientation to be followed as Abyei still has no formally agreed administrative arrangement This state of
abeyance has favored the continued popularity and acceptance of traditional justice mechanisms. Traditional
justice modalities will be strengthened to provide fair trials, due process and evidence-based conviction as well
as harmonize customary laws with human rights standards.

Traditional Court judges: To ensure that the traditional justice mechanism is strengthened, court judges
and community leaders will be trained to be able to improve trials and observe human rights.
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Consultant will be hired to support the harmonization of customary laws and human rights, maintain
records and enhance the performance of the court officials.

Paralegals: The paralegals bring on board their legal knowledge and experience in ensuring that all
actions either to affected / victims or causers display respect for the human rights of individual and
there is always fairness. They also provide legal advisory support to the network in case of actions that
require legal redress. Where situation requires mediation and reconciliation amongst individuals,
families and communities is undertaken by them so that peace is maintained and built.

Training of Paralegals: The project will establish networks of paralegals in all the targeted localities.
Extensive training and continuous capacity development will be provided in human rights, mediation
international legal standards and guidelines on child marriage as well as other customary laws.
Information resource centers will be opened and legal reference materials and other learning materials
provided as well.
In addition, basic rehabilitation of civil administration offices and community safety and information
infrastructure will be provided as the civil administration is being established. A coordinated and organized
urban planning process – including a participatory appraisal and needs assessment of how to restore full
administrative services including infrastructural services to the returning population will be re-activated. These
will be the building blocks for longer-term capacity building support in governance and rule of law guaranteed
security of returning IDPs. In executing this task, UNDP will work with partners including FAO, GOAL, Mercy
Corp, SNV, SCS, ACAD, SAARF, IOM, Ministry of Agriculture, CBOs and UNISFA.
Output 2: Basic services and infrastructure restored/improved to support returns and reintegration
The project will enhance access and quality of education for two communities in the Abyei Area, i.e. the
community of Rumamier (North of River Kiir predominantly inhabited by the Dinka) and the community of
Meknes (North of Abyei Town predominately inhabited by the Misseriya). The current school in Rumamier is
overcrowded with many children having to study outside in the open area, moreover, the school has no latrines
for pupils. This situation adversely affects enrollment and quality of education as well as children’s hygiene and
their health. With the increasing number of people returning the situation is getting worse. The school in
Meknes is also overcrowded and in need of more classrooms. In addition to this it is also in urgent need of
rehabilitation. The specific output targets that aim to meet the immediate needs of returning populations and
host communities in these areas are:
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
Construction of 8 additional classrooms (4 class rooms each in Rumamier and Meknes)

Construction of 8 permanent latrines (4 latrines for boys and 4 for girls in Rumamier school)

Rehabilitation of the school in Meknes.
The project will enhance basic services provision related to education in the target communities and support
social cohesion in return areas through equitable access to services.
Education committees already exist in these schools and will be fully engaged in order to ensure that the
schools are able to provide optimal services to the students. UNDP has established good relationships with
UNICEF and UNISFA on the ground and there is no overlap in the proposed activities. UNDP will also continue
to collaborate closely with them during the implementation of these interventions.
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IV. Project Outputs and Activities
Intended Outcome
Peace dividends are delivered for sustainable return, reintegration and recovery under an enabling environment that guarantees security and rule of law
Expected Project Output
Output 1. Capacities of the
paralegal associations and
the traditional justice
mechanisms enhanced to
create enabling
environment for safe and
sustainable return of IDPs
Output 2. Basic services
and
infrastructure
restored/improved
to
support
returns
and
reintegration
Q1
Time Frame
Q2
Q3
Q4
X
X
X
X
UNDP
Paralegals
2
24,000
48,000
X
X
X
X
UNDP
4
4,000
16,000
X
X
X
X
UNDP
Paralegals
IPs
Lump sum
20,000
20,000
X
X
X
x
UNDP
Paralegals
4
7500
30,000
Construction of traditional courts in all localities in
Abyei Area including Abyei town.
Procurement of vehicles (for the project
coordination offices) motor cycles (for paralegals)
X
X
X
5
53,600
268,000
X
X
X
UNDP
IPs
UNDP
33,000
2,800
66,000
42,000
Procurement of office furniture and equipment for
the traditional courts
Construction of class rooms in Rumamier (4) and
Meknes (4)
Rehabilitation of Meknes school
X
X
X
UNDP
5,149.60
25,748
X
X
X
X
43,750
350,000
X
X
X
x
1
23,831
23,831
X
X
X
X
UNDP
IPs
UNDP
IPs
UNDP
IPS
Vehicles – 2
Motorcycles
-15
Lump sum
per court
8
2
22,500
45,000
Planned Activities
Establishment of physical structures for paralegal
information centers through use of local materials
in 2 localities of South Kordofan (Lagawa and
Dilling)
Equipment and furniture for the paralegal
information centers created
Provision of TOT training for the paralegals
(mediation skills, referral pathways, management
of the JCC, human rights, domestic laws and
international human rights standards etc)
Provision of legal aid services for the community
and court officials (4 localities of SK and Abyei)
Construction of permanent latrines in Rumamier
school (4 latrines x 2 unit: 4 latrines for boys and 4
for girls).
Responsible
Party
Planned Budget (USD)
No of units
Unit cost
Total
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Expected Project Output
Planned Activities
Q1
Time Frame
Q2
Q3
Q4
Responsible
Party
Planned Budget (USD)
No of units
Unit cost
Total
Sub-Total
934,579
GMS (7%)
65,421
GRAND TOTAL
1,000,000
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Budget Summary Breakdown:
Outputs:
Output 1: Capacities of paralegal associations and traditional justice mechanisms
enhanced to create enabling environment for safe and sustainable return of IDPs
and vulnerable people
Output 2: Basic services and infrastructure restored/improved to support returns
and reintegration
Sub-Total
GMS (7%)
Grand TOTAL
Budget
(US Dollars)
515,748
418,831
934,579
65,421
1,000,000
Note:
1.
2.
For any fund balances at the end of the project, the country office shall consult with the Government of Japan on its use
The interest income should be treated in accordance with the Japan-UNDP agreement on Arrangement for the Interest
Income derived from Japan-UNDP Partnership Fund
V. Partnerships
To ensure a smooth transition from relief to development, the project will work closely with humanitarian
agencies to ensure that the post return support is implemented in tandem with the humanitarian interventions.
UNDP plays the role of the coordinator for the Governance, Infrastructure and Economic Recovery (GIER),
which is a new sector introduced for the Humanitarian Work Plan 2013. The GIER sector closely coordinates
particularly with the Returns and Reintegration Sector.
The proposed intervention will build on and create linkages with on-going projects and activities. In addition,
UNDP will seek to collaborate with JICA Sudan during implementation of this project. Both agencies will seek
opportunities to synergize their work where they both have a presence or/and ongoing activities, recognizing
the importance of collaboration between UNDP and JICA as stipulated in the MoU signed by the UNDP
Administrator and JICA President in 2009.
VI. Visibility
Full acknowledgement of the donor will be given in all of communication products and other relevant materials
through the display of logo.
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VII. Management Arrangements
This project will be implemented under the direct management of the UNDP CO. The Team Leader of the Crisis
Prevention and Recovery Unit (CPRU) and Team Leader, Governance and Rule of Law (GROL) will monitor and
supervise the Project Manager/Early Recovery Specialist (CPRU) and Regional Programme Manager (GROL), in
charge the Protocol Areas (South Kordofan, Abyei Area) performing the overall management and
implementation of the project.
Programme Officers of both CPRU and GROL will ensure the smooth implementation of the project activities
and backstop the Project Managers, and will resolve obstacles that may arise. The Programme Officers will
also monitor and ensure quality of inputs, processes and outputs.
Programme Associates from the Crisis Prevention and Recovery Unit and GROL Units will liaise with Operations
and support the project with procurement, project payments and logistical issues.
The bulk of project activities will be implemented by the Implementing Partners, under the supervision of the
executive management of the Project Executive Boards and the Project Managers.
UNDP has presence and established Field Offices in Abyei and Kadugli, South Kordofan responsible for the
operations and coordination with different partners and government institutions. All project staff will receive
extensive security training and all offices and vehicles will be MOSS compliant.
VIII. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
As part of project start-up activities, UNDP in collaborating with its partners will develop a monitoring and
evaluation plan which outlines a set of performance outcome and output indicators; giving detail on indicator
definitions and data sources, research methodology and who will be responsible and involved at each stage of
monitoring and evaluation ensuring availability of baseline information for all interventions. At the start of the
project, a baseline study will be conducted through the UNDP CRMA and the conflict assessment to establish
an agreed set of indicators for each output. UNDP Sudan will submit the final report (both narrative report and
provisional financial report) upon completion of the project, and final financial report later, to the Government
of Japan.
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Monitoring & Evaluation Officer will be responsible to build the capacity of local partners on M & E through
trainings and on-site joint monitoring of the projects. The M & E Officer will issue regular progress reports to
the Project Officer and the overall Project Manager.
These reports will be based on the monitoring and
progress reports from the project field staff, as well as progress reports submitted by contracted implementing
partners. The M & E Officer will support UNDP’s role in developing case studies/best practice for the
Livelihoods and recovery programme.
IX. Security
The security situation in South Kordofan in particular is tense and unstable with constant military engagement
between government and rebel SPLM – N with reports of numerous incidents. Many rural areas are remote and
difficult to access. In addition, the current security situation may not permit direct implementation in rural areas
considered unsafe. This constraint can partially be mitigated by contracting paralegal association, NGOs and
local community structures. Although direct monitoring may be hampered, this will be addressed through the
recruitment of local field monitors and community based organisations, which will monitor the sub-project on
behalf of UNDP.
X. Risks
UNDP has been able to maintain and expand its presence since UNISFA was set up in 2012 in Abyei and South
Kordofan.
Specific risks to the project include:

Security Situation: The security situation may slow down implementation. Risks related to personal
security and travel will, therefore, be mitigated by implementing projects through NGOs/CBOs;

Capacity of NGOs/CBOs: similarly, the exact implementation capacity and geographical reach of the
national NGOs/CBOs cannot be predicted in advance;

State government provides adequate security, police and rule of law institutions, infrastructure and
personnel in areas of return;
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
Other UN Agencies and NGOs provide the necessary humanitarian emergency packages and basic
services such as food, shelter, health and education facilities;

The return is voluntary and validated through an independent assessment.
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