GWBF (Sudan Campaign)
GLOBAL WELLBEING FUND
HRRDS was awarded a grant from the GWBF to advance its mission of ensuring full rights and equal opportunities for people with disabilities (PWDs) and other marginalized groups. The grant is focused on enhancing the organization's overall capacity to better support its beneficiaries.
Objectives
1. Enhance Connectivity: Establish internet infrastructure in the Nuba Mountains, a region with no existing network or internet access, to improve communication for family connections and access to social services.
2. Strengthen Safety and Protection: Improve counseling services focused on mental health and psychological support to ensure the safety and protection of clients.
3. Facilitate Mobility: Enhance client mobility through the provision of motorbikes, easing transportation challenges.
Key Activities
1. Office Setup: Procurement of office supplies and furniture, leading to the creation of a fully functioning HRRDS office.
2. Energy Reliability: Improved energy access with the purchase of solar panels and batteries that supported in the day to day works.
3. Transport and Mobility: Acquisition of a HAJOUE motorbike, significantly addressing mobility challenges.
4. Internet Access: Establishment and installation of an internet cafe to provide connectivity to the region and support in connecting families.
In response to the organisational gaps, and with support of the GBWF funding, HRRDS has initiated key activities directly impacting the lives of the general population.
1- The internet cafe, has provided a reliable communication links to families separated by the Sudan crisis, enabling them to reconnect with their loved ones, share information as well as offer social and emotional support. On average, HRRDS reconnects over 500 monthly families since its inception, reestablishing contacts and rebuilding lost relationships.
2- The internet café has hired two more staff members, sourced from our Self-Help Groups (SHGs). This aligns with our mission to empower displaced individuals and improve their livelihoods."
3- The improved office infrastructures and internet has increased access to critical information. Both local and displaced communities have now access to up-to date information on health, safety and education; enabling them to make informed decision in the volatile region of Sudan.
4- The logistical support and ease transportation have improved humanitarian coordination and efficiency in service delivery. Thanks to the support, HRRDS through this enhanced communication and logistical capacities have improved the relations between the IDPS, hosting communities and other NGOs operation in the region addressing their needs promptly.
5- The availability of internet access has led to the creation of community based initiatives, including empowerment of HRRDS's Self Help Groups, that's operating the cafe, news and information dissemination and not limited to safe routes and accessibility to aids.
Some key lessons learned and best practices implemented during the GWBF project are as follows:
1. Adoptition of a holistic and culturally sensitive approach to interventions: While addressing community challenges such as internet connectivity gaps, we faced significant demands for services, including urgent requests for support. This highlighted the need for comprehensive and lasting solutions that address the broader needs of the clients.
2. Continuous community engagement at all levels is essential: The success of our interventions, including the establishment of the internet café and its sustainability, was largely due to HRRDS’s clear communication that the project aimed to bridge the communication gap. However, it also emphasized the importance of community support to ensure its long-term sustainability, reinforcing its relevance and impact.
3. Flexibility and adaptability are crucial in emergency contexts: Being able to adjust and adapt to changing circumstances has been critical in aligning our interventions to better meet the needs of both the clients and the broader community.
