"Changing your approach every day"
Izzeldin Hashim Mohammed works for SOS Sahel Sudan as Head of Programs with a background in business administration and integrated water resources management (IWRM). He supervises the RtF Water Security and Climate Resilience project in the Bara region. This project has had more than its fair share of challenges. Yet, Izzeldin does not get discouraged. Instead, his passion and enthusiasm increase as challenges come his way. His strategy? "Changing your approach every day ".
The situation in Sudan
The most challenging situation started on 15 April 2023 when the war broke out between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). This situation affected more than 9 million people seeking refuge. The government directed its limited resources to the war, leaving people in refugee camps without basic necessities.
Commodity prices soared. RSF looted transport vehicles and blocked vital roads connecting villages and refugee camps. Their checkpoints made transporting commodities extremely challenging. Despite this, the Sudanese people found a way to live, showing their resilience.
The integrated water management approach
SOS Sahel Sudan does not solve problems for the community but helps communities solve problems themselves. For example, in Sudan, if people need water, applying for it is a long process. SOS Sahel Sudan supports the community in leading a situation like this themselves.
To introduce the RtF project, SOS Sahel Sudan follows 3 guiding principles:
- To introduce the project to the involved community so they understand the locally-led approach (LLA): To seek support but not guidance.
- To ensure the community is accountable for the project implementation at the location. Beneficiaries must think and act themselves.
- To empower community-driven leadership, reducing reliance on external organisations.
This approach is typical for Reversing the Flow (RtF), and Izzeldin is convinced that it has improved the community's resilience. "Making civilians part of the RtF project guarantees a local approach. I am happy to share that SOS Sahel Sudan will also start implementing this approach in other projects."
Changing your approach
When challenges come your way, you have to change your approach. If needed, every day. Izzeldin shares some of these challenges and how a different approach helped overcome them.
- The RtF approach is community-driven, contradicting traditional development and humanitarian approaches. For stakeholders such as relevant government departments, the old approach is still predominant. SOS Sahel Sudan had to change these ideas and convince the government that the old approach was less effective. So, they appointed a local steering committee to advocate LLA. As this was not planned, it took time. But, the result significantly contributed to the buy-in of these critical stakeholders.
- An ongoing internet connection interruption kept their field staff from attending online meetings. It also made emailing progress reports impossible. So, they switched to face-to-face meetings and having locals deliver old-fashioned letters to the community.
- Due to the war, inflation soared, making buying commodities such as fuel complicated. Privately owned cars became the target of illegal confiscation. So, SOS Sahel Sudan used public transportation and rented local vehicles in Bara instead. The interruption of the bank system also slowed down their implementation. To solve this problem, they transferred money directly to the suppliers using a bank app.
The outcome of RtF's approach
SOS Sahel Sudan is about to complete the preparatory inception phase activities before entering into supporting community-led initiatives through small grants. SOS Sahel Sudan would not have reached this project stage without RVO. Izzeldin concludes: "RVO knows it is not easy, yet they have been very patient. They gave us all the support we needed to set up the project. Some still think development cooperation is about receiving money, but the RtF /LLA approach is mind-shifting. Communities are becoming ambitious and are starting to develop their own plans. They realise they can change things themselves rather than depending on others. Accomplishing this shift in mindset is the project's most rewarding outcome so far."
More information
The SOS Sahel/RtF hub is a local organisation that has been working in Sudan since 2010 to reduce poverty by implementing Natural Resource Management or NRM-based activities. This involves managing natural resources while prioritising quality of life. NRM focuses on the needs of present and future generations. It examines how people interact with natural landscapes.
Reversing the Flow (RtF)
RtF supports communities in vulnerable situations by strengthening their water security and climate resilience, thus amplifying their voices in landscape or watershed governance. Under RtF, interventions are community-owned. Local communities manage the funds received. Also, they plan and implement water and climate adaptation activities. Community ownership enhances the projects' sustainability and increases their resilience to climate change. Local partners (RtF hubs) support communities in organising and leading these actions.
For more information, see the Reversing the Flow webpage.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Your RVO network
