Khartoum - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) together with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sudan and the Ministry of Agriculture conducted a three-day inception workshop of the project: ‘’ FAO Sudan smallholders and agro-pastoralists value chain support in the face of climate change’’ from 6 to 8 March. The purpose of the workshop which gathered more than 150 participants was to provide a platform to key stakeholders – Smallholder farmers and pastoralists’ representatives, Federal and decentralized State authorities, the Norwegian Embassy, UN agencies, SMEs, Universities and Academia, NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, and others to review the project framework and develop recommendations to streamline the project design and activities to be implemented in the states of Sennar, White Nile, and Gedaref. The Ambassador of Norway to Sudan in his opening remarks emphasized on the importance of supporting the agriculture sector and vulnerable smallholders and pastoralists to overcome their challenges to be self-reliant and produce enough food to strengthen their food and nutrition security to directly contribute to the achievement of key Sustainable Development Goals including the SDGs: 2, 1,5,8,12,13,16 and 17, and indirectly to other SDGs. The project is also in line with the national plan and strategy of the government of Sudan. Agriculture production systems and food systems in Sudan must undergo a significant transformation in order to achieve sustainability, increase food security, and respond to climate change. “In this regards the project supported by the Embassy of Norway will develop an inclusive partnership with all key stakeholders to ensure that smallholder farmers, agro-pastoralists, and pastoralists supported by the project are more resilient, more productive, more efficient more profitable, and food-secured using watershed ecosystem management and climate-smart agriculture approaches”, said Adam Yao, FAO Representative a.i in Sudan.

El Fasher is one of the localities that host a largest number of IDPs who have been displaced for two decades. Due to the recent political and economic situations of the country, deteriorated security situations, and protracted displacement, the IDPs face precarious living conditions characterized by lack of basic services, lack of security of land tenure, and lack of livelihood options. Deprivation in these basic rights, in turn, worsens the vulnerability of IDPs towards economic crisis and food security. Through the support of Japan, the project aims to support sustainable IDP returns and ensure human security of both the returned IDPs and host communities through the improvement in basic services and public facilities, securing land rights of returned IDPs and host community members, and ensuring the commitment of relevant actors towards guiding principle for sustainable, voluntary, dignified and safe return of IDP’s. The project also aims to enhance self-reliance of the returned IDPs and host communities, by training youth and women on self-help construction using the environmentally sensitive and affordable Stabilized Soil Blocks (SSB). His Excellency Mr. Takashi Hattori, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of the Sudan expressed that “It is our honor to continue our work with UN-Habitat Sudan through our project ‘Emergency Support to IDP Returns in El Fasher Locality, North Darfur State’. The Government of Japan has long been a strong advocate of and contributor to improving human security globally. I sincerely hope that this project would contribute to ensuring the human security of both the returned IDPs and host community members, which perfectly aligns with our vision in ensuring sustainable and durable peace.” Mr. Masayuki Yokota, Head of UN-Habitat Country Programme highlighted the critical challenges in Darfur, where the vulnerability of IDPs are heightened due to the recent political, economic and security situations, requiring urgent attention and practical solutions to build their resilience and to ensure human security. Particularly, a large number of IDPs living in informal settlements around major cities and towns lead to unplanned, rapid urbanization in urban peripheries without adequate basic services and infrastructure, which negatively affect the host communities. Mr. Yokota expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan for their support to the project that addresses the urgent need to improve the human security situations of IDPs and host communities, and at the same time contributes to the long-germ resilience of returned IDPs and host communities through improved access to livelihood for local youth and women, basic services and land rights. Japan also provided UN-Habitat Sudan with support for sustainable IDP returns and peaceful coexistence of IDPs and host communities in Eid Elfursan and Alsalam Localities, South Darfur State, and Tawilla Locality, North Darfur State in recent years.

Sudan: UN rights expert Radhouane Nouicer’s statement at end of first official visit Khartoum, 2 February 2023 Good afternoon. Thank you all for coming. As you may be aware, I was appointed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights as his Designated Expert on the human rights situation in Sudan in December, succeeding Adama Dieng. During this visit to Sudan, the first in my official capacity, I have met with the authorities, civil society, and victims of human rights violations in Khartoum and in West Darfur. I have also held meetings with members of the diplomatic community and the UN country team. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the authorities in Sudan for their cooperation with my mandate, their support for my visit, and for the frank and constructive discussions we have had on human rights issues.  I welcome the commitments made in my meetings with them to address the concerns I raised. Four years ago, when Sudanese women, men and youth took to the streets demanding respect for their rights, full of hope for a safer and more just future, the world was watching in support. Sudan today stands at a critical crossroads. A new phase of the transition is urgently needed to continue the process towards democracy that was interrupted by the October 2021 military takeover and meet the population’s demands for freedom, peace, and justice. I welcome the important human rights commitments in the Framework Agreement that was signed between civilian political forces and the military in December last year and hope that roadmaps will be soon established to address all five outstanding issues, with broad participation of concerned parties in an inclusive dialogue, so that a final agreement can be signed and a civilian government appointed. Resumption of legal and institutional reform, with the participation of civil society, must be a priority for a new government. Human rights and accountability must be central to the next government’s program. That Sudan faces huge challenges was brought into clearer focus to me in my various meetings. In El Geneina, I met people who had been repeatedly displaced as a result of armed attacks against their communities, for which, to my understanding, no one has been held accountable. Some have been displaced for nearly 20 years but still hold hope that they will one day be able to return safely to their homes and lands. For that, they need security, and a political commitment to resolve the underlying causes of conflict. Implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement and the National Action Plan for the Protection of Civilians can help to resolve some of these issues. Failure to take action to protect the population will lead to further conflict and an increase in the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance. The message of the victims and civil society representatives I have met is clear and I fully endorse it: all those responsible for human rights violations and abuses committed during Sudan’s conflicts must be held to account, in accordance with due process and without unjustified delays. This is the message I delivered to the authorities. Accountability and transitional justice require a process and credible mechanisms that address past crimes, their root causes, and prevent recurrence. From my meetings with a large number of civil society representatives, including women and young people, I got a clear sense of a lack of confidence in the way things are going - an uncertainty about the future. Many reported increased restrictions on their activities, including increased bureaucracy, denial of NGO registration and undue scrutiny of their funding. They felt that the space that had opened for civil society during the transition is being closed again. A robust and diverse civil society is fundamental to democracy, and serious steps towards building trust between the population and state institutions is key for the success of any political process. Without political stability, the environment will not be conducive to improvement of the human rights situation. In my meetings with the authorities, I raised several interlinked issues and made to them the following recommendations: To urgently address issues of accountability of security forces to the population within a framework of democratic civilian oversight, rule of law and respect for human rights. This should include a clear roadmap for security sector reform. As has been documented by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, human rights violations since the military takeover have included excessive use of force against protestors, arbitrary arrest and detentions of political opponents and civil society activists, torture and ill-treatment, attacks against hospitals and medical personnel, sexual violence and restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression. The committees established to investigate the human rights violations committed since the military takeover have not yet submitted their findings. The immunity from prosecution of members of the security forces implicated in human rights violations must be lifted. Victims and their families are waiting for justice, and Sudan’s future depends on the way the authorities address cases of accountability in Khartoum, Darfur, and in every region in the country. Establishing the Transitional Justice Commission, as per the law adopted in 2021, must be a priority in the coming period. I urge the Sudanese authorities to uphold their commitment to set up a comprehensive victim-centred and gender-sensitive transitional justice process that will address all human rights violations and abuses, provide justice to the victims and prevent their recurrence,  Restrict the use of emergency legislation, in line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Sudan has ratified. Emergency decrees have been used to detain people for long periods without respect for their due process rights, including the right to fair trial and representation. In West Darfur, I raised my concerns with the Wali and Security Committee about the impact of the decision to imprison hundreds of people without trial, many in other states. I welcome the release of most of them prior to my visit. Guarantee the rights and protection of women.  Women have been at the forefront of the peaceful protests and have since the coup been victims of violence, intimidation and harassment and seen a roll-back of the gains won under the transitional government. I urge the authorities to publicly commit to and implement a zero-tolerance policy on sexual violence and take measures to stop all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. The authorities should guarantee the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights. I am deeply concerned by the retrogression of the enjoyment of these rights, including basic services, due to the deterioration in the economy, increased cost of living and pressure on the population as a result of increased taxes and fees, without increase in their income.   We are at a critical moment in Sudan’s history. For Sudan’s democratic transition to succeed, there must be solidarity among all sectors of this culturally rich and diverse society. The time has come for Sudanese leaders from all parties, military and civilian, whatever their political positions, to set aside their personal interests and work for the common good of the Sudanese people.  I would like to thank all those national and international actors working to help Sudan along the path of democracy, development and prosperity.   END

“I am deeply saddened by the news of the killing of a peacebuilding adviser who has been working for the United Nations. I express my deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” said Volker Perthes. On 27 January 2023, a contractor for Addition Organization for Disaster and Development (ADD), a local NGO and UN partner, was killed and an ADD staff member was injured after their vehicle came under fire at a checkpoint. At the time of the killing, they were on their way to carry out peacebuilding activities in Giessan as part of a UN project to support post-conflict recovery, conflict resolution and conflict prevention in Blue Nile State. “I am profoundly distressed by the loss of life of a peacebuilding adviser, who, together with the UN, was committed to building bridges between communities. Aid workers must be respected and protected,” added Mr. Perthes. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) calls on the Sudanese authorities to take swift action to identify the perpetrators of this attack and bring them to justice. He reaffirms that such acts will not diminish the resolve of the United Nations to continue supporting the people and the Government of Sudan in their quest for peace and stability.