BUILDING SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN SUDAN BY IMPROVING PEOPLE’S LIVELIHOODS

Ruth Haug, Noragric, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Sudan today

33 mill people2005: 6,5 mill displaced people (war, underdevelopment, drought)Oil fields: 55.000 people fled in 2000/01Peace agreement signed January 2005Darfur conflict not included in the peace agreement

Causes of conflict

Marginalisation/inequitable distributionEthnic and cultural differences (Arabs-Africans) discriminationReligion (Sharia introduced in 1983)Fight over resouces (oil, water, minerals, land)Colonial influence (top down approach)Governance crisis in Khartoum

Peace agreement

Power sharing: Government of National Unity, political autonomy S-SudanWealth sharing: oil 50-50%Military arrangements: 3 armed forcesBoundaries: special arrangements in three states (Abyei, S Blue Nile, S)6 years interim period then referendumImplementation (UN peace forces)

Peace building

Peace making (January 2005)Peace keeping Peace building: Political, Livelihoods, Security

More than half of all peace agreements fail and the parties drift back to war

Sustainable peace: What is needed?

Fragile stateDarfurNational ownership of peaceSPLM: Civil organisationLivelihood improvementsNo unified south identityWho will control the militaryInternational pressure and control

Livelihood improvements

Address war distruction (IDPs, widows)Rebuild institutions and communitiesCoordination – chaos or both?Role of NGOsStrength of SPLMFood and capacity building

Food relief

Contentious exerciseProne to external and internal biasOperation lifeline Sudan (UN/GoS/NGOs) Relief has not developed local capcityRelief has undermined local production

Livelihood improvements

Misguided external aid pacify peopleNGOs/donors act as if there were no government Build educational capacityImprove health servicesAgriculture the only livelihood optionTenure security of prime importanceMarket constraints depress productionAgricultural research and extension

Joint Assessment Mission (JAM)

Agricultural components Cluster 4: Not related to Livelihood & Social ProtectionWeak analysis (cultivate 2% of 95% arable, soil is eroded by slash&burn)Recommendations (public& private patnership, fertilizer, rice cultivation)Technology, infrastructure, institutions, markets, agro-processing

Conclusion

Reconstruction has to address the consequesces of warSustainable peace has to be built from below by improving people’s livelihoodsAgricultural development of crucial importance for food, income, growth and poverty reduction