Search for Common Ground (Search) in Sudan has implemented the three year Maa Baaad Namo project (2018-2021) in collaboration with its local partners: the Badya Centre for Integrated Development Services (Badya), Um Serdiba Association for Development (Um Serdiba), Paralegal’s Association (PASS), the Human Security Initiative Organization (MAMAN), and ElSharq Centre for Culture (ECC). The overall goal of the project has been to increase the capacity, networks, and opportunities of Sudanese CSOs to improve vulnerable women and girls’ access to multi-sectoral development. The project activities covered five states in Sudan: West Kordofan, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, Gedaref, and Kassala.
Project activities had positive effects on the local community especially with regards to the strengthening of coordination between CSOs and government institutions. The most successful component of the project was the capacity building for CSOs, which included activities such as outreach, communication, and advocacy training; training of trainers (ToTs) on technical topics and CSO management training. The increase in capacities of local CSOs facilitated the establishment of multiple partnerships and networks between CSOs and government institutions both at the local and national levels, thus scaling the impact from grassroots to national level. Finally, the media programming had a positive impact on the level of awareness of women’s and girls’ rights within the communities. Community awareness of the importance of women’s active participation in the economic, political, and social aspects of life increased significantly to over 50 percent.
