2002 - 2010

WHY USAID/OTI WAS IN SUDAN

USAID/OTI’s Sudan program began in 2002 as part of the U.S. Government’s effort to strengthen Sudanese confidence and capacity to address the causes and consequences of political conflict, violence and instability.

USAID/OTI'S ROLE IN SUDAN

From 2002 to 2010, USAID/OTI's program focused on critical transition issues in southern Sudan such as:

• Increasing access to balanced information;
• Promoting good governance;
• Providing conflict resolution expertise in areas vulnerable to violence; and
• Supporting people-to-people peace processes.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Established independent southern Sudan media: The people of southern Sudan had limited access to balanced information and, as a result, were prey to biased reporting. The provision of balanced information was critical to the expansion of citizen participation in local governance and peacebuilding activities. USAID/OTI awarded the Education Development Center (EDC), a cooperative leadership award, to establish a local language radio service for southern Sudan and the transmission of the shortwave radio broadcast beginning in July 2003. Radio programs promoted the positive and peaceful development of the governance institutions including educational and cultural programs, health issues and civic education and governance programming.
• Fostered demand for good governance: USAID/OTI's program in southern Sudan worked to improve governance and to strengthen the balance between leaders and citizens. USAID/OTI's efforts focused on strengthening the rule of law by increasing the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary. As one of its initial activities, USAID/OTI sponsored the December 2002 All-Nuba Conference, bringing together representatives of civil society, the Government of Sudan, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and others across the political spectrum to discuss the future of the Nuba people.
• Provided rapid, flexible conflict resolution mechanism and tangible peace dividends: USAID/OTI supported southern peace processes to help address the preconditions for longer-term development programming. Interventions in this area included the provision of technical assistance/capacity building to civil society groups and key sector governance bodies and the implementation of community-identified priority projects to secure local peace agreements among citizens.