Nuba Vision

Volume 3, Issue 1, March 2003

NMPACT Programme Coordinator, Steve Utterwulghe, welcomes the participants and apologized for the short notice meeting. The HAC/NMPACT meeting was supposed to be organized by HAC/NMPACT team was away in a retreat in Khartoum. Unfortunately, HAC was not present. It has been decided that NMPACT will continue co-chairing the monthly meetings with HAC but that NMPACT will take the lead in the organization. The UN Area Coordinator for the Nuba and NMPACT are committed to keep the partners and the donors aware of the situation in the Nuba Mountains.

MEDAIR took over from MSF- Belgium the health activities in the western jebels last month. The organization will basically run the PHC programme. MEDAIR announced an upcoming massive EPI campaign that is expected soon in the western mountains. Regarding vaccines, MEDAIR has started to make contacts with UNICEF OLS as the key player in the provision of vaccines and essential drugs. However, there are no routine vaccinations in the area except ad hoc campaigns. MEDAIR raised the issue of vaccines and drugs supplied from the northern sector; NRRDO and the SPLA/M have reservations about medical supplies coming from the north, fearing contamination with HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Lack of trust still exists and it needs time and dialogue to remove the lingering fears. MEDAIR requested NMPACT to intervene and clarify the issue with NRRDO/SPLM/A. It was also mentioned that FAR has a good reputation in the western mountains and most of their medical supplies come from Khartoum. UNICEF representative mentioned that they have been sending in supplies (equipment and solar systems) to colleagues in the southern sector without any problem. UNICEF added that they have agreed with the State Ministry of Health to conduct EPI training of personnel and exchange expertise if the SPLM political leadership could allow. NMPACT will try to tackle the issue of vaccines and other medical supplies with SRRC and SPLM political leadership.

MEDAIR supports medical facilities in Talodi in Aleri area but could not revisit the area since the onset of rains in May. Plans were underway to travel back to the area but were advised against travel by UNMAS due to landmines, though there is traffic.

The programme has been involved in three areas over the past months: peace and trust building, livelihood rehabilitation with FAO (seed banks, nursery, tools and blacksmithing) and capacity building training undertaken by the University of Dilling (training of CBOs, civil society, NGOs and some government departs). UNDP has been involved in ice breaking process on the political side by getting the partners together. It was easier at the grass root level. Earlier the organization conducted a workshop during which the projects and plan of action were laid down. UNDP plans to conduct a stakeholder’s evaluation workshop in January 2004 from which the outcome will be used as the basis for future projects in the coming year. Lastly, UNDP raised two issues that need the attention of NMPACT; arrest of staff with detention of a tractor that came from the SPLA controlled area. NMPACT programme coordinator explained that this is what NMPACT is also there for but that these issues need to be brought to NMPACT’s attention. He set an example of IAS staff who were detained in Dilling. NMPACT has been requested to assist the parties and facilitate discussion with the authorities, which it planned to do right after the meeting is over. It also appears that the tractor and the driver did not have a plate number and a driving license, respectively. Nothing could really be done by NMPACT, except to explain to partners the procedures. If procedures and admin requirements were followed, such issues wouldn’t come up. GoS and SPLM still have a responsibility to respect their commitment to facilitate cross-line operations and make sure that partners receive the right documents.

UNICEF representative outlined five areas of operation: education, health, WES, protection and peace building. In the field of education, UNICEF has finished the rehabilitation of 10 schools with DFID funding and is currently rehabilitating 10 more schools with 30 classrooms in CFCI areas. Areas considered to be most disadvantaged are Talodi and Kadugli. UNICEF has supplied 309 schools with materials and trained 30 TOTs to train 500 more teachers in the upcoming phase. In the health sector, UNICEF supports 73 PHCU (41, 10 and 22 health facilities run by SC-US, MEDAIR and SMOH, respectively) with essential drugs. Plans are now underway to ship in supplies by January next year. Peace building: There are barriers to integration of IDPs/Returnees into host communities that would requires dialogue. Last year, UNICEF identified conflict between the Shanablla and the SPLA and indigenous communities and there is need to conduct a peace-building workshop to be attended by the nomads and local communities and other interested groups. UNICEF also supported peace education in schools, the bordering villages Moro – Lubo hills up to Torigee, Umseridiba, Undulu, Regafi, and El Rieka in peace competitions activities.  UNICEF is committed to organize a peace conference to revive the old traditional pacts between the Baggara and Nuba in the Moro area through NMSA. Communication and Advocacy: Community radio, girls’ education, livelihood support, HIV/AIDS and focal points listening groups, are activities of advocacy supported by UNICEF. The messages are broadcast in four local languages: Moro, Katcha, Kafina and Kadugli colloquial Arabic. WES: 10 school pit latrines with water points are completed. It was announced by WES coordinator that there will be a water coordination conference next week to be attended by all the stakeholders to discuss the achievements made and put forward a plan of action for 2004. Also policy guidance will be discussed.  The WES representative explained that they were able to rehabilitate 80% of broken water hand pumps in Kadugli. According to WES, out of 3000 hand pumps, about 1000 are out of order. The plans are to train local mechanics at the village levels and provide them with tools and spare parts. He advised against digging of more haffirs until after hydro-geological and geological surveys have been conducted. The drilling capacity is presently low given that they are only two rigs that often breakdowns.

Ongoing activities are: 1.  FFW in construction of school pit latrines, bricks manufacturing and haffirs 2.   De-mining and mine clearance support 3.   Emergency school feeding programme covering 81 schools run by SC-US and state ministry of education 4.  Few projects under review

Future plans: 1. ANA results are expected out soon and will be shared will all 2.  Will continue to support FFW activities over the coming year 3.  Cross line operation to transport food to Kauda as per recommendations of ANA 4.  Road assessment mission could not take place due to security clearance locally from UNMAS

Ongoing:

1.  Conducted annual food security meeting attended by all the stakeholders and the beneficiaries.

2.   Review of food interventions and set priorities for the next year

3.  Conducted one week training on vegetables gardening in collaboration with state ministry of agriculture, department of horticulture.

Future plans:

1.  Training on water harvesting in the next coming 3 weeks

2.   Animal traction technology training

3.   Blacksmithing training

NMPACT Programme Coordinator thanked the participants and reiterated that it is important at this stage to continue to work to transform conflict and support cross-line activities through a well-coordinated work.  He announced that two coordination meetings were conducted on 23–25 in both Khartoum and Nairobi and that field officers should get the minutes from their respective head offices. NMPACT partners agreed at those two meetings to fill in a matrix of activities and gaps that should be sent to NMPACT by 15 December. The information will be important and useful for planning and advocacy. It will be shared between partners and donors. The programme coordinator announced that Jake Hamm will be away until January 4, 2004. Mabil will leave as from 10 December 2003. The programme coordinator will be back with DPKO/ Rule of Law mission between 11 and 13 December 2003.