Decades of civil war devastated the infrastructure of Southern Sudan, which had never been extensive, even under colonial rule. Urban roads became nearly impassible during the rainy season, and all travel between towns was limited to river traffic. Schools and other municipal buildings were often just neglected and decaying shells. And city trash collection was a distant concept.
International Relief & Development (IRD) worked with the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) to identify critical areas for improvement that would make the daily lives of area residents easier. Improved drainage systems, litter cleanup, and school reconstruction made the top of the list.

In April 2008, IRD, with funding from the World Bank and GOSS, began the Rapid Impact Emergency Project (RIEP) to address these issues. The idea was not only to improve the physical infrastructure, but to also provide an immediate source of income for locally hired workers and, by partnering with local organizations, to give community-based groups the literal and organizational tools they need to do these projects without outside assistance.

IRD hired 500 men and women to work construct new drains and an additional 300 women to pick up trash in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State. Within three weeks, improvements were already readily apparent, with water no longer standing in the middle of the dirt roads creating mud pits and trash no longer creating breeding areas for mosquitoes and other vermin. Meanwhile, in Kuajok, capital of the neighboring Warrap State, work began to rehabilitate two schools, rebuild the local hospital, and construct community latrines.

Beyond the physical benefits, an important aspect of the project has been involving local Sudanese organizations in the planning and implementation. IRD has trained staff from GMK and Fashoda Youth Forum in financial and grants management, proposal development, and other organizational skills so they are now able to manage projects on their own.

“What we have with the partnership model of IRD is really capacity-building,” says John Lwong, executive direction of Fashoda Youth Forum. “Because financially we will be equipped, our capacity will be fully built, and later on, if any donor comes, we will have a record that we have managed a budget before. We really appreciate the trust that IRD has given us.”

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