Since a cease-fire between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM in January 2002, there have been new opportunities for humanitarian assistance and capacity building in the Nuba Mountains. Since July 2002, FAR has been implementing a multi-sectoral program in Nuba with the aim of providing long term sustainability through the initiation and strengthening of village development committees/community based organizations (VDC/CBOs) and women groups (WGs).

The goal of FAR's current program is that these groups will progressively assume responsibility for meeting the basic needs and development priorities of their communities. FAR’s partnership with UNDP for the Community Empowerment Project (CEP), funded by the World Bank, is linked to progress achieved and lessons learned from previous work in the area.

FAR's cross-line Western Nuba Mountains Program has provided an opportunity to use experience from the existing program framework of (Dilling and Lagawa Localities and Counties). The management of the Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) for the Nuba Mountains as a whole provides another strategic opportunity to build upon results achieved.

Project Objectives:

1. To assist in implementation of community-level grant management structures and systems for the purpose of empowering community groups to become self-reliant through the identification and implementation of reconstruction activities.
2. To strengthen trust and cooperation between parties by ensuring a close collaboration between the PMU and the NMPACT Monitoring and Evaluation team.
3. To demonstrate principles of local ownership, and to promote accountability and cooperation between external partners.
4. To establish a project with elements based on coordination and community-driven efforts that can be used as an example for future reconstruction projects in Nuba and other parts of Sudan.

Objectives:

• Appropriate distribution of Community Empowerment Funds (CEF) funds to selected communities in the Nuba region.
• Establishment of projects designed and owned by local constituents.
• Establishment of a network capable of distributing further development funds locally.
• Strengthened local village management committees capable of planning and implementing sustainable community projects.
• Overall increase in community self-reliance and standard of living.
• Strengthened relationship between local government parties.
• Enhanced relationship between national and international development agencies.
• Completion of local community-based project to be used as an example for future agencies and donors.