Forging a Path to Democracy: Empowering Civil Society in Eastern Sudan
The lack of trust, collaboration, and coordination among Sudanese civil society segments has historically hindered their effectiveness in supporting democratic transition, peace, and stability, necessitating innovative, inclusive, and dialogue-based approaches to foster broader community participation in political processes; recognising this, SUDIA has been leveraging "Futures Thinking," notably Future Search, to bridge divides and build trust amongst civil society, starting with a training workshop that was held in Khartoum and subsequent visioning exercise that facilitated the elaboration of a common shared agenda for their role in the transitional period, while also responding to calls from Eastern Sudan partners for similar state-level dialogues, to establish sustainable alliances that can be replicated nationally and contribute to reshaping Sudan's socio-political landscape.
This project targeted Sudan’s eastern states of Red Sea and Kassala. Its goal was to support civil society in Red Sea and Kassala states in working collaboratively towards a shared vision of furthering the region’s transition to democracy while fostering enhanced trust and engagement between the different segments of civil society and local communities. This was achieved through future search conferences, community-based initiatives, and dialogue.
Two conferences were held in October 2022, bringing diverse civil society groups together to develop a shared vision for democratic change. A key outcome was the establishment of Follow-up Mechanisms, intended to facilitate the development of action plans for institutional reform, social consensus, and sustainable development.
Understanding the essential role of trust in community development, the formation of Community Action Groups (CAGs) was initiated, with support from micro-grants designed to tackle specific local needs. These dynamic groups spearheaded a total of 13 impactful projects that included enhancements to local schools, training programs aimed at empowering women with new skills, and revitalisation efforts for health centers to improve community wellness. Feedback from grassroots participants revealed a notable increase in mutual trust and collaboration among community members. Furthermore, organized dialogue sessions between the Follow-up Mechanisms and traditional leaders played a significant role in fostering a spirit of cooperation, enhancing the bonds within the community.
Project activities included state-level conferences, planning workshops, CAG establishment and training, micro-grant distribution, dialogue sessions, and context analysis.
Key lessons learned included the importance of integrating monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), providing sustained support for networks, utilising micro-grants for community empowerment, ensuring qualified staffing and flexible funding, and continuing support for dialogue initiatives.
Despite numerous challenges, the project has established a foundation for civil society to chart a more democratic and inclusive future in Sudan’s eastern region. Appreciation is extended to local partners: NAGED, 8 March Group, Red Sea University, Senbaba Group, Youth for Peace, Rera Organization, and the Sudanese Bar Association. Gratitude is also expressed to our donors, the British Council and the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom, for their support.