Within the RES-EAST initiative, funded by the Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo , more than 500 beneficiaries in 5 villages located in the Haya locality have received #sorghum #seeds and agricultural tools, thanks to the support of the NGO #Betay Development Organization. In the coming weeks, #Sudan Vision and #Building Resilience Development Organization will collaborate to extend the distribution to farmers in Aroma and Telkook (#Kassala).
The RES-EAST program is committed to promoting sustainable rural development and enhancing the resilience of vulnerable communities in Eastern Sudan. This initiative aims to improve their access to #water resources and provide support to the #agriculture and #livestock sectors.

Hadiya, Mubashar, and Rogia are three of the 67 participants in the "Developing and Establishing Gender Champions" training program that took place within the EU funded WE-RISE! project - between June and July - in Gedaref, Sudan, implemented by AICS in partnership with Mercy Corps.
Surprised by the sudden violence that erupted in the country on April 15th, 2023, with hundreds dead and thousands fleeing the capital, Hadiya, Mubashar, and Rogia are now trying to contribute through awareness actions to curb the increase in gender-based violence (GBV) incidents in Gedaref. Despite Gedaref being largely shielded from direct conflict, the city is grappling with significant challenges due to the influx of displaced individuals arriving from Khartoum. Overcrowded markets, soaring food prices, and unreliable electricity services are exacerbating tensions, leading to an increase in episodes of violence, especially targeting women and girls.
This has resulted in a deterioration of living conditions in these areas. Since April 15, the number of people in Sudan in need of GBV services has increased by over 1 million, reaching 4.2 million people. The number of individuals targeted for GBV services has risen to 1.3 million .
In this context, Mercy Corps organised a training course from June 22 to 25 and July 18 to 20 in Gedaref tackling 40 women and 27 men from diverse age groups and backgrounds, including students, employees, housewives, youth volunteers, and members of the community service committee the training program was designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of GBV and harmful social norms, its root causes, and its impact on individuals and communities. Through interactive sessions led by qualified facilitators, the participants were encouraged to discuss social norms perpetuating violence against women and girls actively. Mubashar has been chosen as the "Gender Champion" for his unwavering commitment to gender equality and his willingness to address "uncomfortable" topics in his community. Through this training, his knowledge and community mobilization tools have significantly improved, enabling him to take a proactive role within his community, family, and university, with the goal of effecting real change and eradicating harmful social norms.
One of the key goals of the training was to raise awareness of the importance of consent and healthy relationships. Participants were instructed in recognizing signs of abuse and how to sensitively offer support to survivors. The training also strongly emphasized the role of young people in shaping the impact of social networks as an effective tool to counter harmful gender stereotypes still prevalent in society.
The gender-based violence training concluded with an action planning session, in which the participants were encouraged to develop ideas and initiatives to address gender-based violence in their respective communities. The impact of this training should be far-reaching. Gedaref is taking significant steps toward creating a safer and more inclusive society by providing individuals with knowledge and skills. Hopefully, these trained participants will become gender champions, inspiring others to combat harmful social norms and work towards eradicating gender-based violence.

Training days for 67 young men and women who will become promoters and animators of campaigns against gender-based violence (GBV) have have been organised in Gedaref, from 22 to 25 of June. Selected for their abilities and social commitment, they will be encouraged to organize dissemination activities on gender equality and facilitate the opening of spaces for dialogue on shared needs in their communities. The training has been realised by Mercy Corps within the WE-RISE! project funded by European Union and implemented by AICS Cooperazione Khartoum con competenza per Eritrea e RCA

Nell' ambito del programma Recard finanziato dal programma Bekou e in corso la riunione organizzata dalla dalla Direzione Sanità Regione 1, per preparare il Piano annuale di Lavoro Sanitario 2023.
Questo esercizio permetterà alla regione sanitaria n. 1 di avere un documento di sostegno che ne rafforzerà la governance e la leadership.
Il piano di lavoro 2023 sarà attuato sulla base delle lezioni apprese nel 2022.

Sudan has an incredible and diverse cultural heritage, ranging from Neolithic sites of human activity and settlement to historic sites of the 19th and 20th century and today we had the privilege to assist to the moving of a 5 tons statue representing King Tarhaga - also known as Fighter King - discovered in Jabel Barkel at the beginning of last century which clearly represent the “grandeur” of the Kingdom of Kush.

Since the very beginning of the initiative, Italy – together with Sudanese and International partner and stakeholders - has played an active role: an Italian company named ARS Progetti has been awarded for the preliminary design of the design while the restoration of 20 frescos and the training of National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums staff has been completed by an English Italian join venture Opus Conservation e Società Rava e C. S.R.L.

Our common goal is to reopen the museum to the public through the implementation of rehabilitation works, while providing adequate conditions to preserve the heritage and the collections and making them available to the public and playing a fundamental education role.

The visit of the experts of the Sudanese Metereological Authority and the National Council for Civil Defense to the CIMA Foundation in Savona has successfully ended.
The training was focused on weather forecasting for #earlywarning prevention of floods and droughts. An important opportunity for Sudanese colleagues to share data and information to develop, within the APIS project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, procedures, techniques and tools for numerical meteorological prevention with WRF (Weather Research & forecasting model).
The Sudanese delegation accompanied by the experts of the CIMA Research Foundation visited the Functional Meteo-Hydrological Center of Civil Protection of the Liguria Region and the ARPAL - Regional Agency for the protection of the environment.

1 billion people worldwide have a disability, approximately 15 percent of the entire world population;

In Sudan, 15% of the population live with disabilities encountering in their every day lives social, physical and emotional barriers;

What is AICS doing?

AICS is engaged at creating a more inclusive and accessible society, in partnership with national and international actors, and in 2002 , the Italian Cooperation adopted the first Guidelines on disability, which, among the others, included a mapping exercise regarding the Italian initiatives in the sector.
“Today we are here to celebrate the Disability inclusion as an essential condition to upholding human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security. Our work is in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in particular for a quality education for all and reduction of inequalities in order "to leave no one behind” stated the Ambassador of Italy Michele Tommasi.

This year the International Day of Person with disabilities is about the overarching theme of innovation and transformative solutions for inclusive development, covering in three different interactive dialogues the following thematic topics:

• Innovation for disability inclusive development in employment (SDG8): right to employment, right to develop knowledge and skills;

• Innovation for disability inclusive development in reducing inequality (SDG10): right to access innovations, practical tools and good practices to reduce inequalities in both public and private sectors;

• Innovation for disability inclusive development: right to equity, innovation and employment.

“The general approach used by AICS in its work is the mainstreaming disability approach. We mainstream the topic of disability in all our interventions, but we are proud to have double track interventions such as INLAB aimed at supporting the integration and the economic empowerment of PwD”highlighted the head of AICS Khartoum, Michele Morana. “We strongly believe that each member of the society plays a fundamental role in promoting disability and each of us can contribute to the achievement of a more inclusive and accessible world. A world where we can finally be united in diversity”, concluded Morana.

Let us conclude by using a quote from a disabled actor and writer, Benjamin Snow: “Disability is natural. We must stop believing that disabilities keep a person from doing something. Because that’s not true . . . Having a disability doesn’t stop me from doing anything.”

Active participation, inclusion, accessibility, access to information, education and learning: once again they become the keywords to refer to on an important day like today.

Last 27th and 28th of November 2022, UNIDO together with the Office for Investment and Technology Promotion in Germany (UNIDO ITPO) organized a business-to-business (B2B) entitled "Promoting access to renewable energy products for agricultural use" for over seventy stakeholders working within the renewable energy ecosystem in Sudan including suppliers and exporters of technological products, support institutions, farmers' associations and financial institutions, with the aim of facilitating connections through one-to-one bilateral business meetings.

The B2B event was carried out in close collaboration with the Ministry of Production and Economic Resources of the State of Kassala, the Federal Ministry of Industry and the Federal Ministry of Energy and Mines – Renewable Energy Directorate, and was promoted within the project "Resilience of agro-pastoral populations in Eastern Sudan" funded by the Italian Government through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

During the event, Michele Morana - head of AICS Khartoum office, representatives of the Sudanese federal and state governments, the private sector and universities presented the main success factors, challenges and opportunities related to the sustainable adoption of renewable energy technologies for the agricultural sector in Sudan and their efforts to ensure business sustainability and optimize the introduction of quality technologies into the Sudanese market.

The B2B is configured as one of the key activities of the project implemented by UNIDO whose objective is to develop key agricultural supply chains in Eastern Sudan by promoting the transfer of technologies, access to finance and the development of agri-food entrepreneurship with the final aim of increasing the ability to generate added value in the agricultural sector of Sudan.

The delivery ceremony of four vehicles to the Ministry of Health and Population was held in Bangui this morning in the framework of the project "ATECH-Assistance Technique aux Equipes Cadres visées à l'Harmonisation de gestion des services sanitaires" realised by CUAMM within the "RECaRD - Renforcement de capacités des équipe cadre des régions" program et de district” progtamme financed by the Bekou Fund and managed by AICS Khartoum.
The four Toyota Hiluxes, destined respectively for the Health Region 2 and for the Health Districts of Bossangoa - RS 3, Ouango Gambo - RS 6 and Haute Kotto - RS 5, will contribute to the process of decentralization of the Central African health system.

H.E. Pierre Somse, Minister of Health, expressed his deep gratitude towards the Italian Cooperation for its work and the long-lasting relationship since 2016. He concluded his speech by reaffirming the absolute importance of valid partnerships, such as the Italian-Central African, which can really make a difference in a country characterized by a protracted and complex humanitarian crisis.
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0.54: Wim Vandenbroucke - Chef de Cooperation
Anja Bauer - Chargé de Programmes Section Economie, Secteurs Sociaux, Secteur Privé et Intégration Régionale

The Head of Office in Khartoum - Michele Morana - visited the "Bahri Teaching Psychiatric Hospital", located in the outskirts of Khartoum. The center is one of the two large health facilities specialized in psychiatric and psychological pathologies with a catchment area of ​​over 10 million people.

The Director of the Hospital illustrated the critical situation of the center, attributable in the first place to the scarcity of financial resources as well as to the lack of qualified personnel (the number of psychiatric operators present throughout the country is heavily deficient) who is in charge of supporting around 250 requests for assistance in day hospital (users made up mostly of young women aged between 14 and 40 years).

The visit allow to focus on the needs to strengthen the network of territorial mental health services, with a view to prevention and early response to emerging needs, first and foremost the exponentially growing cases of addiction to amphetamines and substances. narcotics.

The visit is part of the preparatory phase of the conference "Mental Health and Development Cooperation" that AICS Khartoum is organizing from December 14th to December 16th in Trieste, in collaboration with the ASL 1 Triestina. The conference will be attended by Italian experts and experts from various African countries, in addition to the countries of regional competence of Sudan, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Chad and Cameroon, also from Burkina Faso.

Drug Management training course took place - for three days - in Bria, city located at 571.5 kilometers from Bangui,  in the District of Kokko.
The training - organized as part of the RECaRD project funded for the European Union (# FondBêkou) and implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation- focused on the following:
1. General introduction on Drug Management
2- Selection of drugs
3- Supplies of drugs
4- Storage of drugs
5- Distribution of drugs
6- Role of Pharmacists
7- The financial management

Between October 20th and 26th, the Head of AICS Khartoum office , Michele Morana, visited Cameroon.

This was an important opportunity to meet with the different stakeholders: the  mission started with the visit to projects currently implemented in West Cameroon and  with meetings with local counterpart as well as local and international CSOs.

The western part of the country is affected by a protracted crisis since 6 years: over 1 millions of refugees flee in neighboring countries such as Nigeria and almot 84.000 are IDPs (internally displaced people).  This unexpected increase in population in the host communities has had a notable impact especially on education and health services, which are already precarious. The initiatives funded by AICS therefore aim to ensure adequate health services at local health facilities, as well as to promote access to drinking water and ensure appropriate sanitation services in bilingual schools and health centers, and the promotion of good health and hygiene practices within the displaced and host communities of the departments of Menoua, Noun and Bamboutos.

The commitment of AICS in responding to the crises affecting Cameroon is also characterized by its support for the National Health Emergency Response Plans which, according to UNOCHA, affect more than 1.6 million people in the country. The ceremony for the delivery of biomedical material for sequencing the SARS-CoV-2 Virus to the International Reference Center for Research on HIV / AIDS Prevention and Treatment "Chantal BIYA" ( CIRCB) of Yaoundé has been organized in the presence of the Italian Ambassador, Filippo Scammacca del Murgo, and the Cameroonian Minister of Public Health, Dr. Malachie Manaouda.

The historic and active cooperation between AICS and CIRCB - the national health reference center for genomic surveillance in all Africa - was highlighted - and considered as essential for the development of clinical studies and research in order to contribute to the development of appropriate national health policies to deal not only with the Covid-19 pandemic, but also with the different epidemics and communicable diseases spread in the country.
Other important meetings with different local and international actors were held during the mission. Of particular relevance, the meeting held by the Head of AICS Khartoum with the representatives of the Italian CSOs, active in Cameroon and Chad, which are engaged in the humanitarian response in both countries (Tchad and Cameroon). Meetings were also held with local ministerial representatives, including the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development of Cameroon

The visit was an opportunity to enhance and reaffirm the important active collaboration between Cameroon and Italy, as well as to identify useful elements in order to develop significant future synergies and to better orient the international cooperation actions promoted by Italy in the region, both in humanitarian aid and development sector.

Le 27 Mars 2022 a été le jour de remise d’un don de 22 motos au Ministère de la Santé et de la Population.
L’accès aux soins est restreint et insuffisant. Le personnel de santé se concentre dans la capitale et un lien efficace entre les differentes structures de gestion du système sanitaire est absent. C’est dans ce contexte que le Projet RECaRD « Renforcement de Capacités des Equipes Cadres de Régions et de Districts Sanitaires » agis afin d'ameliorer la situation.
Le projet RECaRD, mise en œuvre par l’Agence Italienne pour la Coopération au Développement (AICS), vise au renforcement et le transfert des compétences vers les acteurs de santé locaux à travers l’autonomisation des régions sanitaires, districts sanitaires et FOSA.
La livraison des motos fait partie de cette stratégie d'amélioration de la liaison entre les services de santé et leurs bénéficiaires en dehors de la capitale et représentent un moyen pratique pour le Ministère de la Santé et de la Population de mettre en pratique ses compétences de bonne gouvernance et de leadership.
Au total 22 motos, 22 casques, 22 imperméables et 22 caisses à outils pour un montant de 37.290.000 F CFA ont été remis au Ministère en présence du Ministre de Santé et de la Population Pierre Somse.

Dans le cadre du Programme RECaRD, financé par le Fonds fiduciaire Bêkou, les travaux de construction du Bureau du district sanitaire de Bamingui-Bangoran (Région sanitaire 5), plus précisément dans la localité de Ndelé, sont en cours de finalisation. Outre les travaux de construction, le bureau sera doté d'un équipement adéquat pour permettre aux Equipes-Cadres concernées d'accomplir leurs tâches dans un espace approprié et protégé. AICS est honorée de travailler dans cette région si tourmentée par l'instabilité constante, les conflits, le manque de services et de matières premières, et les effets évidents du changement climatique.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Sudan has received a new donation of EUR 1.5 million (US$1.6 million) to support the Capacity Building for Improved Nutrition.

Sudan is facing a dramatic situation: 15 million people – 34 percent of the population are currently food insecure. This might increase to 18 million people (39 percent of the population) by September 2022. Around 13.6 percent of children are acutely malnourished (too thin for height) and 36 percent are stunted (too short for age), posing increased risks of morbidity and mortality among children under five.

The project funded by the Italian Government will enable WFP to support national systems, humanitarian, and development actors through the provision of services and expertise and strengthening capacity to implement the SDGs.  WFP will support the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement in Sudan, aiming at developing a Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy and strengthening communications and advocacy to raise public awareness on nutrition challenges and solutions.

Michele Morana, director of AICS Khartoum, concluded that the Government of Italy through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation is investing 50% of its funds in Sudan in the health sector. The Italian Cooperation supports WFP in responding to new and protracted crisis with a nexus approach, linking emergencies, development and peacebuilding.

The Paediatric Centre in Nyala has reopened its door thanks to the funding's of the Italian Cooperation.

The hospital is the only pediatric unit in a large area of ​​South Darfur with a population made up of migrants, refugees and displaced persons. Thanks to the funds of the Italian cooperation, the structure has been rehabilitated and fully equipped. Since the beginning of the year, the hospital has treated - free of charge - 7,300 cases of which more than 1,500 children affected  by SAM and MAM.

Sudan is facing a dramatic moment : according to the latest analyzes by OCHA, the number of vulnerable people in September 2022 will touch the threshold of 11.7 million people (25% of the population). About 13.6% of children are severely malnourished ( too thin for stature) and 36% suffer from stunting (too short for age).

According to UNICEF , Sudan is among the 14 countries with the highest rate of malnutrition in the world . 63% of children under 5 do not have a daily meal. “AICS Khartoum invests more than 50% of its funds in the health sector through three types of interventions: 1. Support and technical assistance to government institutions. Italy finances the Global Fund (HIV-TB-Malaria) and the GAVI for vaccines; 2. Multilateral funding in particular to WFP and WHO; 3. Bilateral funding and delegated cooperation (funded by EU). Italy plays an important role in the fight against child malnutrition in Sudan "concluded director Michele Morana.

The Centre is equipped with three paediatric clinics, a heart clinic, a radiology room, a laboratory for analysis, a pharmacy, and a hospital ward with 18 bed spaces, as well as other integral facilities like the stock room, offices and kitchen.

The structure was built with a strong focus on using sustainable techniques. These include an innovative air conditioning system that uses water to provide natural ventilation for the clinic, inspired by traditional methods from the northern Sahara.

The land that the Paediatric Centre is built on was provided by the state government of South Darfur.

The Centre reopened its doors in November 2020 nine years after the Centre was closed for security reasons due to the kidnapping of an international staff member.

The reopening event of the Emergency hospital in Nyala, South Darfur, took place after it closed in 2010.
The hospital is the only pediatric unit in a large area of ​​South Darfur with a population made up of migrants, refugees and displaced persons.
Thanks to the funds of the Italian cooperation, the structure was able to be rehabilitated and fully operational again. Since the beginning of the year, the hospital has treated - free of charge - 7,300 cases of which more than 1,500 children with SAM and MAM.
Sudan is going through a dramatic situation: according to the latest analyzes by OCHA, the number of vulnerable people in September 2022 will touch the threshold of 11.7 million people (25% of the population) of which About 13.6% of children severely malnourished ( too thin for stature) and 36% suffer from stunted growth (too short for age).
With these data, Sudan is among the 14 countries with the highest rate of malnutrition in the world according to UNICEF estimates. 63% of children under 5 do not make it to a daily meal.
“AICS Khartoum invests more than 50% of its funds in the health sector through three types of interventions: 1. Support and technical assistance to government institutions. Italy finances the Global Fund (HIV-TB-Malaria) and the GAVI for vaccines; 2. Multilateral funding in particular to WFP and WHO; 3. Bilateral funding and delegated cooperation.
Italy plays an important role in the fight against child malnutrition in Sudan "concluded director Michele Morana.

Thanks to the support from  the Italian Cooperation, UNMAS has managed to release 57,200 sqm of land and destroy 89 items of unexploded ordnance + 633 small arm ammunition in North, West, and South Darfur, benefiting around 1 million people.

In addition, UNMAS multitasking teams were able to give explosive ordnance risk education (#EORE) to a total of 4,650 local community members.

The head office Michele Morana together with Amb. Gianluigi Vassallo, a delegation from MAECI - DGIT led by Minister Vignali and staff members of UNHCR paid a visit to Um Rakooba refugee Camp in Gedaref State, hosting approx 19,000 refugees from Tigray. Since the early stages of the Tigray conflict, tens of thousands of people have crossed the Ethiopian-Sudanese border - from the Hamdayet and Lugdi borders - to seek refuge in Sudan. The refugee camps in the Gedaref state - Umm Rakooba - Tunaydbah - Babikri - Umm Gargoug - host about 44,520 Ethiopian refugees (mostly Tigrinians and Qemant).

The Italian Cooperation promptly responded by reconverting several ongoing programs to meet the growing humanitarian needs and maintaining a constant presence in the transit centres and refugee camps set up ad hoc by UNHCR, building upon Italy’s historical presence in the East. Italy in 2021 has been the second largest bilateral donor of UNHCR in Sudan after the United States (not considering the European Union).

The call for proposals for Sudan is online: Iniziativa di emergenza per le popolazioni vulnerabili del Sudan colpite da disastri naturali e conflitti

Deadline: August 13th 2022 at 5.00 pm

Sectors: Health- WaSH - Food security - Protection

The operating block with three rooms, a delivery room with 3 beds and a labor room with 8 beds was inaugurated at the Teaching Hospital in Port Sudan. The intervention was carried out by Ngo AISPO, present in Sudan since 2017, and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The hospital hosts about 30 daily deliveries.
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In the framework of the the "Emergency Initiative in Support of the Central African Republic - AID 11743" , 9,350 NFI kits has been delivered to support IDPs population  in Central African Republic. More than half of the Central African population, around 2.8 million people, continues to depend on humanitarian aid and, following the deterioration of the humanitarian and security situation due to the presidential and electoral elections, around 200,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes. The protection of IDPs is therefore among the most urgent needs of the population, together with the supply of basic necessities, basic health care, water and sanitation. To respond to this emergency, AICS, in collaboration with UNHCR, purchased NFI kits to be allocated to 9,350 families in the Kaga-Bandoro, Bambari and Obo regions.

Office equipment such as office and conference tables, chairs, cabinets, desktop computers (accessories: screens and voltage regulators), laptops, multifunction printers, projectors and projection panels have been delivered to Health Regions 1, Health Region 2, Health Region 3 as part of the program funded by the European Union - Bekou Fund and implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
The material distributed to the regional and district offices will guarantee - according to the standards - their proper functioning and correct implementation of the programme at FOSA level.

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The booklet "A place called Mayo: The path to resilience" is the outcome of a common work realized by AICS - ARCo' - University of Khartoum and the sudanese Ngo Hope Sudan. The booklet is about the community experience of the building process of Ghaar Hiraa in Mayo Mandella.
Read the booklet & watch the video

A technical visit of a Sudanese delegation took place from 25th until 29th April 2021 to CIMA Research Foundation - Italian Civil Protection. The visit to the Italian High Specialization Center - took place after the second mission of the CIMA Foundation in Sudan - has been focused on defining a new initiative aimed at providing Sudan with an Early-Warning system for the prevention of natural disasters and mitigation of risks resulting from climate change, in particular the consequences on the agricultural sector, in line with the development strategy of DRR implemented by the National Council for Civil Defense (NCCD) in collaboration with the Sudan Survey Authority (SSA) . During the visit, the Italian and Sudanese experts analysed the following topics:
- Methodologies and technologies for disaster prevention according to an Early-Warning approach
- Operating modes of the Italian Civil Protection system
- Development of the DDR Strategy at the national level
- Training on data collection by UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and adaptation of technical equipment

The Master Degree graduation of 36 students who started this experience in 2019 in the framework of the first edition of the MBA in "Global Impact Entrepreneurship" organized by the "University of Medical Sciences & Technology" in Khartoum and by the "E4Impact" Foundation and the Catholic University in Milan, took place in Khartoum.

Since the launch of the Global MBA in Impact Entrepreneurship, almost 150 students has been enrolled creating from the very first moment a vibrant and dynamic network, where Italian and Sudanese virtues and values in the field of entrepreneurship and socio-economic promotion have found a place, integrating each other.

The Italian Cooperation has been funding 20 scholarships for women and people with disability in the framework of our TADMEEN project aimed at promoting social inclusion and human capital development of vulnerable groups and I in the same line Italy has just started a new project WE RISE funded by the European Union focused Gender Equality and Women’s Economic Empowerment.

Download the file with all the Khartoum on going projects - click here

The roles of female farmers in urban settings in Khartoum State - Final Report |EN

The roles of female farmers in urban settings in Khartoum State - Final Report | AR

Migration trends & common strategies - lessons from the field |IT

AICS Khartoum brochure |EN

Kick Off visit to the archaeological site #Adulis in #Eritrea where the Italian cooperation is financing a project VITAE - approved last December 2019 - implemented by the Politecnico di Milano in strict partnership with the Erithrean Authorities. The visit saw a large number of Eritrean experts and italian experts form the Catholic University of Milan who analyse the progresses of the excavations in a huge and almost uncontaminated area. This great visit couldnt take place without the support of our incredible Eritrean partner

On February 6th, the launching ceremony of the project funded by the Italian Cooperation and implemented by World Health Organization (WHO) took place. The project aimed at supporting a Smoke Free Environment (SFE) programme and a Health Warning Label and mDiabetes programmes in #Sudan and #Ethiopia. 

The ceremony in Khartoum has been opened by the WHO rappresentative Hoda Youssef Atta, the Federal Ministry of Health Undersecretary Shaza Sida Hmed, the rappresentatives of child and adult diabetes associations and AICS Khartoum  and it has been the occasion to recall that #Noncommunicable #diseases (#NCDs) kill more people than any other set of conditions, causing 15 million premature deaths per year. Most of these deaths occur in developing countries where health systems are already strained.
In Sudan, according to WHO statics around 9%-12% of the population is affected by diabetes.
The main goal of the initiative sis to develop a prevention system based on mobile technology (mHealth) and particularly text messaging and apps, to help combat noncommunicable diseases (#NCDs). The programme uses SMS messages to increase awareness about diabetes, train health workers, provide remote consultation services and provide management support for diabetics. The Mdiabetes systems has been working with Senegal and in Egypt. A second component of the initiative aims at developing Tobacco Control including Water-pipe and Toombak, to secure a better compliance with the WHO recommendations and the WHO FCTC obligations.

On January 19th 2020, at Teaching Hospital in Gedaref, the Nutrition Unit funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) was inaugurated in the presence of the Secretary General of the Gedaref State Governorate, H.E. Abdelmonaim Ahmed Bella,  Director General, Ministry of Health Gedaref State, Dr. Mutasim Adeb AlRaheem Taha , the Ambassador of Italy Gianluigi Vassallo and the AICS Representative Vincenzo Racalbuto, together with representatives of the Hospital. The Italian intervention provided equipment for 20 beds, 4 ICU semi intensive ICU beds, medical equipment, furnitures, one kitchen.

“Italy is deeply committed in Sudan through a number of initiatives strengthening the health system: at the moment Italy is implementing - through AICS – a number of projects in the Health Sector equivalent to 62% of its total budget allocated to Sudan” stated the Italian Ambassador Vassallo, underlying that Italy is deeply committed in the fight against malnutrition and to improve the health system in Sudan.

Those interventions are in line with the Italian role as donor convener for the UN Programme SUN - Scaling Up Nutrition - aimed at prioritizing nutrition as central to national development and imperative to improve maternal and child nutrition.  All the efforts will be in line with the Strategy and the Roadmap (2016-2020) in order to achieve SDG #2 “Zero Hunger by 2030” he concluded.

The representative of AICS Khartoum - Vincenzo Racalbuto – recalled that the Italian cooperation is committed in Kassala – Gedaref and Khartoum through a number of initiatives tackling hospital services improvement; primary health care development; and clinical quality. He added the importance of prevention during the first 1.000 days of life that have a profound impact on a child's ability to grow, learn and thrive — and a lasting effect on a country's health and prosperity.

The Governor thanked the Italian Government for the commitment in enhancing global health security in line with the Sustainable Development Goal Objectives.

AICS Khartoum and colleagues from Cameroon Chad Eritrea and CAR wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

The project Improving the protection of women and girls affected by conflict in the North-West and South West of Cameroon, funded by the Italian Cooperation and implemented by UNWomen, aims to improve the protection of women and girls affected by the conflict through the enhanced capacity of protection actors, the establishment of protection services and a wider educational programme targeting communities in the South West and North West regions of Cameroon.
During the months of project implementation, UNWomen carried out the following activities on prevention and assistance to survivors of gender violence and their empowerment:

• Communities were sensitized to prevention and assistance to survivors of gender-based violence through group meetings, church visits and mass community outreach. Radio programs and thousands of flyers and other visibility material were also realized.
• 573 vulnerable cases have been identified. These vulnerable women received psychological and medical support. 500 dignity kits were distributed that include slippers, a sheet, soap, a bag and sanitary napkins.
  • The Gender Desk of the Buea Police and the safe space at the MINPROFF Regional Delegation in Bamenda were opened.
• 321 beneficiaries were selected, who received specific training on income-generating activities such as sewing, catering, hairdressing, production of beads, pastry, yogurt, etc. In addition, women participated in modules on accounting marketing and resource mobilization, eventually receiving the materials they needed to start their activities.

In the framework of the Humanitarian Aid programme implemented by the Italian NGO Fondazione Mission Bambini di Milano aimed at supporting and strengthening medical care prevention for Rheumatic Health Disease,  kidney failure and under five children malnutrition, the first of three echocardiographs has been delivered to Orotta Hospital in Amsara.

5 Humanitarian Aid initiatives approved in Cameroon and Chad - AID 11762:

Good luck and good work to ACRA, Fondazione MAGIS, COOPI for the 3 initiatives aimed at supporting agriculture and food security, health and resilience.

In Chad, SAILD and INTERSOS will work in order to sustain food security and water accessibility of the most vulnerable people.

The project entitled "Protection of children and women in the Far North of Cameroon", funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by INTERSOS, aims to improve the living conditions of displaced people in the regions of the Far North of Cameroon through prevention and response activities to gender-based violence - GBV and child abuse. The intervention sites are 9 villages in the three departments of Logone et Chari, Mayo Sava and Mayo Tsanaga.

The risks caused by mines and other unexploded ordnance that remain on the ground after the conflicts, such as those at the origin of the humanitarian crisis in the Far North of Cameroon, are very high, especially for children, who are the most frequent victims of this type of accident because of their curiosity, which pushes them to explore spaces that do not know and touch unusual objects.

The awareness-raising campaign on the risks of mines and other unexploded ordnance took place between September and October 2019 in two phases: training of trainers and awareness-raising in the villages.

The training of the trainers was carried out in 3 days, one for each of the 3 departments: on September 25 in Mayo Tsanaga, on September 26 in Mayo Sava and on October 7 in Logone et Chari, involving not only psychologists, caseworkers and social workers of the project (32 people), but also community animators (45), for a total of 77 people.

The topics covered include: mine risks and other unexploded ordnance of war, how to recognize indications on the remains of unexploded ordnance and mines, which are the safety behaviors and which are those at risk.

In the villages the awareness campaign was developed through 9 events, involving, during the month of October, all the locations of the project, not only the 5 originally planned: the incidents that continue to be reported in the region show the importance of providing information and developing capacities in local communities on this issue by expanding the number of people sensitized.

The trainings in the villages targeted the health personnel, teachers, protection committees, heads of the host families (2 for each family), community leaders, for a total of 224 people. The participants were very motivated to disseminate the contents of the training, thanks also to the role played by each of them in their respective communities. In Kerawa, for example, the slogan for the next campaign has been chosen: inform to save lives. In Dabanga (Logone et Chari), where serious incidents have recently occurred (such as the explosion in a family of a device carried home by a child), awareness-raising sessions were held for children of the schools.

In support of the awareness phase, information materials were produced: 20 illustrated manuals (boites à images) and 9 banners (1 for each village) containing one of the key messages of prevention: the invitation not to touch unknown objects or those found in unusual locations.

The materials produced will remain in the "Spaces Friends of Children" to support the organization of awareness-raising activities by community leaders in the future.

In Eritrea, the Italian NGO Fondazione Mission Bambini has started a project aimed at supporting the emergency pediatric cardio surgery system.

The aim of the project is to:

• realize surgical interventions with the support of "Un Cuore - Un Mondo - Padova" at the Orotta Hospital in Asmara
• purchase equipment and drugs
• training activities
• follow-up activities with cardiopatic patients.

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Download the Tadmeen Report 2018-2019: the initiatives aims to promote the social inclusion of children, women and persons with disability belonging to hosting and migrant communities and refugees, by supporting the development of their human capital, promoting equal access to goods and services and increasing their resilience through activities of poverty reduction.

Italy WHO and UNOPS signed last Sept. 14th two Technical Agreements aimed at tackling malnutrition in Sudan and expanding and improving the Healthcare Services of the Kassala Health Citadel through the construction and completion of health facilities, as well as the supply of furniture and medical  equipment. 

WHO project funded by the Italian Government aimed at preventing and managing wasting and stunting while promoting and enhancing monitoring and surveillance systems in support to the Federal Ministry of Health Plan. The very precarious food insecurity situation requires an extensive response by the health system to address a large caseload of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and active role in halting SAM.

UNOPS project aimed at constructing and  renovating the Kassala health facilities (secondary and tertiary hospitals) in order to provide holistic healthcare services for a population of over one and a half million in Kassala and nearby districts, as well as serving IDPs and refugee camps in the area.

This project aims at expanding and enhancing the healthcare services offered at the Citadel through infrastructure support, in particular through the construction and/or completion of health facilities, as well as the supply of furniture and medical equipment at the Kassala Health Citadel in three component areas:Accident & Emergency Department

• Outpatient Department
• Waste Management

Gender and migration: two main topics of the II workshop of the Community Theatre organized by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Khartoum in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Sudan, the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, PAV, College of Art and Drama, Rashid Diab Arts Center and the Sudanese National Theatre.
15 actors among whom 4 persons with disability are committed every day in rehearsals activities of the play “Life at the curve of the Nile” inspired by a novel of Tayeb Saleh “Season of Migration to the North”.
The activity is organized within the programmer Italia Cultura Africa 2019.

Stay tuned.....

In July and August 2019 UNIDO carried out two study tours for Sudanese technicians and professionals within the framework of three-year project “Fostering Inclusive Economic Growth in Kassala State Through Agro-value Chains Development and Access to Financial Services” AID 11259 funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by UNIDO.

The first study tour took place in Italy in collaboration with the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and trained five Sudanese technicians on the installation and maintenance of refrigeration systems. Afterwards, the trained technicians will be involved in the installation and maintenance of a cold storage facility in Kassala financed by the Italian Cooperation in collaboration with UNIDO, the Ministry of Production and Economic Resources of Kassala and the Federal Ministry of Industry and Trade. The cold storage will increase the shelf-life of local fruits and vegetables, thereby increasing their market value for the benefit of the small-holder farmers in Kassala

The second study tour took place in Bahrain and involved eight public and private sector professionals from Kassala such as ministerial staff, the University of Kassala, agricultural producers’ associations and representatives of some local financial institutions. The tour was organized by UNIDO in collaboration with UNIDO ITPO Bahrain and consisted in a training of trainers on entrepreneurship and coaching for small entrepreneurs engaged in the agro-business sector. This activity is preparatory to the launch of a facility to support small agro-processing entrepreneurs in the State of Kassala through entrepreneurial training services and financial support, with particular attention towards women and young entrepreneurs

5 initiatives have been approved in the framework of the Humanitarian Programma AID 11721 aimed at supporting the most vulnerable population in Eritrea and Sudan

Key words: WaSH, Heath, protection.

The initiatives will be implemented in Sudan by COOPI and Emergency and in Eritrea by VIS, Emergency e Annulliamo la Distanza for a total amount of 2.6 M Euro.

Since February 2019, INTERSOS carries out the project "Protection of children and women in the Far North of Cameroon", funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The initiative aims to improve the living conditions of displaced populations in the Far North region of Cameroon through prevention and response activities against gender-based violence and abuses against children. The intervention sites are 9 villages in the three departments of Logone et Chari, Mayo Sava and Mayo Tsanaga.

On the 2^nd and 3^rd of May, training sessions were held for community agents and local authorities in the three departments. The main objective of these sessions was to strengthen the participants' knowledge on the rights of children and women, on the elements that favor gender-based violence, on the consequences that this type of violence can have on the lives of the victims and on the elements and factors of prevention. A training module was also held to illustrate the attitudes to be adopted in the event of abuses against children.

The training was the occasion to present in detail the activities of the project to the authorities and to the community agents, which is particularly important for the acceptance of the intervention by the local host communities.

3.645 km around Sudan is on line!

A long journey among the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation projects - funded by AICS and/or EU Trust Fund -  starting in Port Sudan and ending in Khartoum through Kassala and Gederaf. r

Enjoy the screening !

Partnership for Knowledge - PfK - is a higher education initiative of the Italian Cooperation aimed at providing life-changing opportunities to researchers, public administration officers, social entrepreneurs and young leaders who are committed to develop their professional and academic skills, strengthen their capacities, widen their networks, make a difference in their home contexts and, last but not least, experience the Italian culture.

The programme, funded in years 2019-2022 by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in partnership with several Italian universities, offers a number of Master of Science scholarships and PhD fellowships in the following thematic domains, grouped in four academic platforms:

PfK is primarily addressed to public administration officers, researchers and young leaders.
Candidates should

• be citizens of an eligible partner country;
• hold a bachelor’s degree in order to apply for a MSc program;
• hold a MSc degree in order to apply for a PhD program;
• have a 2-year working experience in the field of the selected course (recommended);
• meet the language requirement.

Scholarships cover international travel expenses (1 return ticket from/to home country), health insurance, university fees and VISA related costs. PhD fellows will also receive a monthly allowance for living expenses. Scholarships will cover a time span of 36 months for PhD programs.

Incomplete applications will be rejected. Candidates can apply exclusively to one PhD programme.

Teaching language: English

Sudanese Citizens are eligible for the following platforms: 

Platform 2 – health, water, sanitation and hygiene
Platform 4 – cultural heritage and sustainable tourism 

Eritrean Citizens are eligible for the following platform: 

Platform 1 – rural development and spatial management

Applications are now open and must be submitted no later than 20 May 2019 at 2.00 p.m.

Selection Procedures:

Step 1 -
For platform 1 click here
For platform 2 click here
For platform 4 click here

Submit the required documents to PFK.applications@aics.gov.it

Required documents:

- CV
- Passport scan
- University transcript
- Language certificate (English level B2)
- Research project
- Employer’s authorization to attend the PhD
- Two reference letters (optional)

Step 2 -

Inform the Agency of your application by filling the notification form.
Applications submitted to PFK.applications@aics.gov.it , which are not matched by the AICS notification form, will not be considered.

Notification form - Platform 1 click here
Notification form - Platform 2 click here
Notification form - Platform 4 click here

For all other information (platforms and eligible countries) click here: Partnership for Knowledge

Platform 1
Platform 2
Platform 4

In the framework of the project Humanitarian Programme aimed at supporting the health system, agriculture and food security and education of the most vulnerable population, the office of AICS Bagui delivered didactic material to the local NGO Kizito in Berberati (about 550 km from Bangui).

The NGO work is focused on supporting street children, and straightening their approach to life. At the Sara Mbi Ga Zo Training Center, students receive vocational training courses on carpentry, sewing, shoe-making, handicrafts, agriculture and they have the possibility to follow literacy classes.

Thanks to the purchase of educational material, the Training Center will be able to guarantee a higher quality of learning of 48 children.

The Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation – Khartoum Office – is currently managing programmes which aim to fight poverty and to improve the social and health conditions of the population. Among the cross-cutting sectors particular attention is given to social inclusion and gender aspects such as women's empowerment. AICS intends to create a shortlist of companies which could be part of the future procurement processes of medical equipment

Download the Expression of Interest: click here 

Dead Line: April 30th , 2019

With the project "Support for the development of human resources in the Health Sector of Red Sea State funded by AICS - Italian Agency for Development Cooperation - and implemented by AISPO - Associazione Italiana per la Solidarietà tra i Popoli and the University of Sassari, the handbook on Pediatric vital signs in newborn, neonate a, infant and child has been published and is currently in use in the Port Sudan Pediatric Teaching Hospital.

Well Done!

Download the handbook in AR & EN

Last March 26th 209 at the premises of the Engineer Company AFI in Khartoum, the delivery of 4 tractors to the SDDR Commission took place.The tractors will benefit 4 cooperatives in Bawoo and Damazin locality, Blue Nile States, involving 200 ex combatants  who will be able to resettle and enhancing food production and community stabilization. Since 2006 up today, SDDRC  supports 130 agricultural cooperatives.

The AICS office in Yaoundé hosted a coordination meeting with the NGOs in the framework of the Humanitarian Programme AID 11226 aimed at supporting Refugees, IDPs and host communities in the Region of Lake Chad. The 5 projects entrusted to COOPI, INTERSOS, SANT'EGIDIO and INCONTRO TRA I POPOLI will be focused on Protection, Health, Agriculture and Food Safety.

We Wish them every success in their projects!! 

In the framework of the initiative AID 11293 in CAR  “Emergency Initiative to Support the Resilience of the Vulnerable Population of the Central African Republic" the support to the Rehabilitation Center for Handicapped Motors (CRHAM) continues.

AICS Bangui delivered material such as timber, screws, glue, paint and bolts, in order to realise prothesis with the aim of giving the opportunity to disable children to walk again.

Within the same project, AICS supported the delivery of food items (rice, sugar, salt, sardines and oil) to the orphans of the CRAHM maternal school.

The structure, created in 1994, aims to provide assistance and constant health monitoring to people with motor disabilities, with particular attention to the most vulnerable children. CRHAM Center has a laboratory where orthopedic appliances are manufactured such as crutches, walker, and scooter for motor rehabilitation, guardians and prostheses used directly by patients.

On January 27th, Baladna Organisation hosted the Ambassador of Italy, H. E Fabrizio Lobasso, the Mayo community leaders and the Representative of the Italian Agency for Development cooperation in Khartoum, Vincenzo Racalbuto, at the Mayo Madella Center for the launching of recreational activities involving 200 street children.

The initiative funded by the AICS is realised in the framework of the Project TADMEEN – Social inclusion human capital development and protection of vulnerable groups within migrants, refugees and host communities and is based on three pillars: support and daily reception of families living in extreme poverty with cases of children at risk; recreational activities and/or psycho-social support for children in the street situations development; promote access to formal/information education, including vocation training.

In Khartoum, growing numbers of children are vulnerable and become victims of various forms of violence. On top of poverty, malnutrition and poor health, children - without the guidance of parents and relatives - are faced with the daily struggle. Our goal – added the AICS Representative in Khartoum - together with Baladna – is to integrate homeless children back into society by offering teaching and learning materials; Psycho-social support through theatre and arts; capacity building and trainings for 7 social workers who have been involved in the children management; recreational activities such as sports in order to reintegrate children into the community; provide protection and vocational training support.

Italy joins its forces with the Sudanese institutions and the civil society for the promotion of the rights and of the socio-economic inclusion of the most vulnerable groups in line with Sustainable Development Goals # 4 - # 5 – # 8 and # 10 for an equitable education, participation, and economic growth, added the Italian Ambassador. We are committed in a moral imperative to support street children, we support the right to life with dignity and the right to life should not be interpreted narrowly, concluded Fabrizio Lobasso.

The AICS Representative concluded that at the moment Italy is implementing a number of projects promoting social inclusion of the most vulnerable for a total budget of 6.7 M Euro over a total budget of approximately 75 M Euro.

On January 27th, the Federal Minister of Social Security and Welfare H.E Widad Yagoub Ibrahim Osman, the State Minister H.E Ahmad Karrar, the Chairperson of the Sudanese Foundation for Persons with Disability Mr Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, the Ambassador of Italy, H. E Fabrizio Lobasso, the Representative of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Khartoum, Vincenzo Racalbuto, visited the German Center in Khartoum II where almost 65 disables are participating to Vocational Training in Engine maintenance, Car electricity and Computer science.

The courses – lasting 45 days and organised by the Sudanese Foundation for Persons with Disability - are part of the Tadmeen project – funded by AICS – aimed at promoting the social inclusion, protection of vulnerable groups and fostering human capital development. The Representative of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Sudan, Vincenzo Racalbuto, affirmed that AICS is committed in investing in activities enhancing employment opportunities through an inclusive approach. Vocational trainings are important tool for youth development and poverty alleviation, delivered under the human development goal of allowing vulnerable groups to achieve full and productive employment and decent work, and equal pay for work of equal value. More than 200 students are involved in other two centres namely Haj- Youif Centre in Eastren-Nile and Friendship Centre in Ombeda where they undertook courses in other fields such as women skills, conditioning, batteries and puncture and welding, he concluded.

Vocational Training courses are the cornerstone of human resources development as well as a key to address socio-economic issues such as unemployment of youth and socially vulnerable groups, added the Ambassador of Italy, Fabrizio Lobasso. Youth represent the future human capital of society, and investment in youth is an investment in the future even more when we are talking about vulnerable groups. In the light of the important commitment in Sudan, the Ambassador announced the creation of a “Group of Friends of People with Disability” (GoFD), aimed at seeking common ground, share experiences and identify ways to bring about inclusive developments to the concrete benefit of persons with disabilities. The goal - concluded the Ambassador - would be providing a streamlined and continual consultation and sharing mechanism to improve the participation of persons with disabilities in daily life and to guarantee their inclusion in the civil society through the coordination from all sectors

In mainly rural North Delta region drought during dry season and flood during rainy season present an high toll on communities’ food security, causing on of the highest rate of malnutrition in Sudan.

The project - funded by AICS and impleemented by AISPO - will intervene in 9 villages, in 3 of those there is an health centre, and will work both with communities members in improving awareness and creating the tools for mothers and future mothers to prevent malnutrition and both with local health system, training nurses, medical staff and nutritionist on prevention, identification and treatment of malnutrition cases and  improving existing structures in order to ensure a more efficient access to health services for local population.

During the project’s first steps, in coordination with Nutrition Department of Ministry of Health, Kassala State, the training process for paramedic personnel in Health Centres started, focusing on improving the management of MAM and SAM cases thought official government protocols (CMAM - Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition), strengthening competencies on usage of medical equipment, management of nutritional deficiencies and identification of malnutrition symptoms. Follow up and training of health centres staff will be a continuous process during the project.

Among the communities in coordination with local NGO Jasmar the formation of the woman group process started. The woman selected will participate in a training process about prevention and identification of malnutrition and they will be focal points in their communities for malnutrition related issues and for sharing among their peers the concepts acquired. The community leaders of the 9 villages were trained about the importance of the creation of the woman groups and women’s primary role in identifying and preventing malnutrition.

The inauguration ceremony for the rehabilitation works of the shelter managed by the Calcutta Sister in Khartoum took place in the presence of the Italian Ambassador Fabrizio lobasso and the head of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation Office in Khartoum Vincenzo Racalbuto.

The civil works foreseen the rehabilitation of the veranda, the kitchen and the storage room as well as the installment of a roof isolation system for the benefit of 25 orphans’ children aged between 8 months and 8 years, migrants and IPDs women hosted in the structure.

The works have been realized in the framework of the Humanitarian Programme aimed at strengthening the living conditions of the most vulnerable communities through the supply of basic services and through interventions aimed at fighting against malnutrition for children under 5 years and pregnant women.

Italy is committed with 7.6 MEuro in Humanitarian Programme aimed at boosting the wellbeing of the Sudanese population though interventions in accordance with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda.

Though humanitarian programme, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation promotes interventions aimed at supporting the most vulnerable population in different areas of Khartoum thought the rehabilitation of well, the distribution of school meals, the furniture of hygiene and medical equipment. AICS commitment is coherent  with the Italian Cooperation role in the triple Nexus aimed at liking humanitarian, development ad peace actions.

The Deputy Minister Emanuela Del Re has approved a 3.6 MEuro for a regional bilateral emergency initiative in Cameroon and Chad in the following sectors: health, water, hygiene, environment, agriculture, food security and protection.

0.5 MEuro was also approved for UNWOMEN for actions to help to increase the capacity to prevent and combat gender-based violence in the south-west and north-western regions of Cameroon and 0.5 MEuro in favor of WFP for the treatment of acute and moderate malnutrition for children under 5 years of age and pregnant women.

Pictures by Abdoulaye Barry

In the framework of the Italian Cooperation activities in Sudan, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and the Italian Embassy in Sudan celebrate the International Disability Day at the Khartoum University in the presence of Mr. Badredeen H. Amed, Secretary General of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities.

The event has been organized in collaboration with OVCI Ngo, Sudanese Ngo Usratuna (USADC), Bridging the Gap Project funded by EU and Tadmeen Project funded by AICS.

The evening was opened with the screening of three short video promoting the rights and the inclusion of persons with disabilities. “Disability” - stated the Ambassador of Italy Fabrizio Lobasso – “must be considered as a key to unlock our deeper understanding of life and Italy is committed to promoting empowerment and helping to create real opportunities for people with disabilities. This enhances their own capacities and supports them in setting their own priorities. Empowerment involves investing in people – in jobs, health, nutrition, education, and social protection”.

The Secretary General of the Council of Persons with Disabilities, from his part, recalled the relevance of the “nothing about us without us” approach, highlighting the importance of partnership and consultation of persons with disabilities in inclusion-related matters in Sudan.

The Italian Cooperation and other Italian entities such as NGOs are supporting the national organisations of persons with disabilities through a number of bilateral,European and multilateral activities in order to boost the development of social justice aimed at fostering the empowerment of PwD to become agents of change and embrace their civic responsibilities.

Two initiatives have been approved with the framwork of the Humanitaria Programme  Programma di aiuto umanitario regionale Sudan e Eritrea AID 11278 aimed strengthening the health status of the popolaution in Eritrea with a particualr focus on malnutrition and non communicable deseases.

The two approved initiatives are:

• Fondazione Mission Bambini
• Annulliamo la Distanza

Good work!

The VM Emanuela Del Re has approved - last December 3rd 2018 - the following initiatives:

In Sudan and Erithrea:

Emergenza Sudan: Programma di aiuto umanitario regionale in favore delle popolazioni vulnerabili del Sudan e dell'Eritrea

WFP:Support to school meals in Red Sea State and Kassala State 

UNMAS: Strengthening the Humanitarian Mine Action Response in Sudan

In Central Africa Republic:

UNICEF: Protecting women and children in contact with the justice system in CAR

Contribution to the EU Trust Fund Bekou

Iniziativa di emergenza a sostegno della Repubblica Centrafricana

As part of the programme aimed at supporting the health system, agriculture and food security and education of vulnerable population in CAR (AID 10894), the ceremony for the delivery of equipment necessary for the preparation of the delivery room took place at Ouango public health center located in the 7th Arrondissement in Bangui . The health center is located in a very populated area on the outskirts of the city and is one of the structures supported and promoted by the Ngo Comunità di S. Egidio ACAP, thanks to which it was possible to complete our intervention.

Within the center there is also a pediatric and adult clinic, a prenatal and maternity care, an infant vaccination services and HIV treatment center. All the health services related to maternal and child serviceare free of charge.

AICS Khartoum has signed a technical agreement with the Blu Nile Ministry of Helath with the aim of preventing the spread of Chikungunya epidemic, particulary in Damazin city. The intervention plan includes two major components: (1) fighting the infection vector, the Aedes mosquito (2) implementing health education activities in order to enhance vector control and prevent future epidemics.

As part of the project AID 10894 (Emergency Initiative to support the health system, agriculture and food security and education of vulnerable population), an urgent health intervention was carried out at the MBaiki prison (about 100 km north of Bangui). A scabies epidemic has recently occurred in the structure, accompanied by a proliferation of fleas, lice and ticks. The intervention consisted in an disinfestation of all the clothing and all the rooms of the penitentiary. The detenees has gone through a medical check up as well. The activity ended with a brief personal hygiene course for prisoners and the distribution of cleaning products.

The activity has been carried out together with the italian NGO Amici per il Centrafrica.

AICS Office in Bangui has delivered urgent medicines and medical products  to the Mama Carla dispensary - managed by the NGO Amici per il Centrafrica. Over time, the structure has become a point of reference for the population of Bangui and receives an average of 60/70 patients a day in its own clinics, where basic pediatric care is given and patients affected by HIV-SIDA are treated. The main pathologies treated are malnutrition, malaria, intestinal and respiratory infections, fungal infections and dermatitis. The pharmacy inside the dispensary guarantees the appropriate pharmacological treatment and the quality of the drugs supplied.

The activity is realised within the emergency initiative aimed at supporting the health system, agriculture and food security and education of vulnerable population (AID 10894).

As part of the project AID 10894 aimed at supporting health system, agriculture and food Ssfety and education of the vulnerable population in CAR, a supply of urgent medicines and medical products was delivered to the Center for Research and Struggle against Depranocytosis. Depranocytosis is a disease affectiong approximatly 2% of the population and only in the capital Bangui around 30,000 people are potentially affected by the disease. This center is the only one present throughout the country and it was opened in July 2018. With today's intervention the Agency has guaranteed coverage of drugs for at least a quater and will ensure the continuity of the care offered.

* chronic anemia that occurs in individuals (as those of African or Mediterranean descent) that is characterized by destruction of red blood cells and by episodic blocking of blood vessels which causes the serious complications of the disease (as organ failure)

The 5 NGO proposals of the emergency programme for refugees, internally displaced persons, returning populations and host communities of Lake Chad in the areas of protection, agriculture and food security and health were approved.

The approved projects are:

ACAP - Sant'Egidio: CAMEROON Prisons: Humanization of prisons north of the country;
Incontro tra i popoli: Subjectivity and strengthening of resilience of socio-economic systems of refugee and displaced populations and of host communities in far North Cameroon;
Coopi: Support for the protection of children affected by the Lake Chad crisis;
Intersos: Health and nutrition in the Lake Chad Region and child and women's protection in the extreme North of Cameroon.

Good job everyone!

Download here the list of approved projects

Great success for the environmental health campaign for the collection of waste, reclamation of flooded areas and vector control carried out in the Hamashkoreeb community under the IHSVP Delegated Cooperation program.
The activity has foreseen the nebulization of permethrin, in order to prevent malaria which in the last years has widely afflicted the area.
The town of Hamashkoreeb has about 275,000 inhabitants, of which 20.2% are children under 5, about 11,000 children and 4,2% pregnant women, about 14,000.

The AICS office in Khartoum participated in the 6th edition of the week of culture organized by Comboni College dedicated to the theme of Education and Sustainable Development Goals, giving particular emphasis to the role played by the Italian Cooperation in the field of economic development, combating poverty and social inclusion (especially minors and disabled persons), in line with the SDGs and the requests of local counterparts.
In the economic development sector, AICS Khartoum aims to divulge an intervention approach for sustainable agriculture over time, mainly through: training activities; revolving funds methodology (reinvestment capital); maintenance of production inputs; development of quality and variety of agricultural production to guarantee a nutritionally balanced diet and last but not least, female empowerment in agriculture. These aspects are in line with SDG 1, 2, 3 and 8 and with Policy Guidelines on gender equality and women's empowerment.
In the field of human development, Italy has been working for a long time to promote the inclusion of the most marginalized sections of the population, in particular disabled persons, playing a propulsive role since, according to our approach, disability must be considered a natural condition to be approached inclusively in line with our Policy Guidelines on Disability and Social Inclusion and with SDG 4, 5 and 8.
In Sudan, the Italian Cooperation manages 6,7 Million Euros in initiatives that aim to strengthen the inclusion of vulnerable groups, gender equality and empowerment, while strengthening the capacities and skills of the Sudanese public administrations.

Following the heavy rains that hit Sudan - causing the death of 36 people, the destruction of 21,500 homes and 68 schools - the area of ​​Mayo, one of the poorest areas on the outskirts of Khartoum with a population of about 300,000 displaced, suffered serious damage: the streets were completely flooded, in some places the level has reached 1,5 meters; most of the mud houses literally "melted" leaving communities without any shelter.

In order to cope with the humanitarian situation, AICS Khartoum proceeded - as quickly as possible - with the distribution of food items such as sugar, flour, lentils, oil, and powdered milk to the community of Jabal Awlia where more than 1,500 families and about 4,500 children live. In this area, Italy supports the Hospital managed by the NGO Emergency, very active for the poores members of society thanks to free treatment and the contribution to the fight against malnutrition; Italy further supports UNDP for the construction of a women's primary school and capacity building aimed at the promotion of issues related to WASH and social inclusion.

The intervention was carried out as part of the Humanitarian Aid program AID 11002 aimed at improving the poor living conditions of the population of the Eastern States, North Darfur and Khartoum, in particular refugees and migrants

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) 
The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Khartoum aims to fulfill the commitment ‘leave no one behind’ stated by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close with IOM and UNHCR is supporting more than 1 million refugees coming from Sud Sudan, Eritrea, Ethipia, Sirian, Chad, CRCA and Yemen mainly concentrated in Eastern State, Darfur, Kordafan and White Nile. AICS with the UN agency is ensuring their protection, access to primary services (health and wash) and nutrition.
Inclusion of refugee children in national child protection systems is an important step towards fulfilling our collective commitments to the SDGs.

As part of the project AID 10583 “Promotion and protection of the rights of orphans and disabled children in the City of Khartoum”, the Sudanese Foundation for Persons with Disabilities organized the Day on Autism Awareness, which is celebrated all over the world on April 2th  #sfidAutismo18.
The theme chosen by the United Nations for the World Autism Awareness Day 2018is empowering women and girls with autism, strenghtening, protecting, enhancing women and girls with autism, in developing their possibilities, against all forms of discrimination and to realize Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)..
In line with the theme, a meet-day was organized with the families and children involved in the Cooperation program with socio-educational and information activities aimed at raising awareness within the local community

The mission of the Italian medical and nursing team took place from February 12^th to 28^th at the Paediatric Hospital of Gezira as part of the project - funded by AICS - aimed at improving standards of care and assistance in the National Center for Paediatric Surgery of Gezira. The project intends to contribute to the improvement of health care in the geographical area related to the State of Gezira, with particular reference to paediatric surgery and training of health personnel for this purpose.
The mission started on-the-job-training for:
• Treatment of anorectal malformations, surgery and post-operative care;
• Treatment of Hirshsprung disease, surgery and post-operative care;
• Treatment of complex estrofric bladder, surgery and post-operative care;
• Treatment of hypospadias, surgery and post-operative care;
• Treatment of Malformative uropathies;
• Treatment of Labio Palatoschisi;
• Anesthesia assistance;
• Nursing assistance especially in critical areas.

The mission was also an opportunity to deliver 70 sheets for the first aid beds (10) and the ward (20).

The first meeting of the Donor Network of the Scaling Up Nutrition - SUN Movement was held at the Headquarters of the Italian Development Cooperation Agency in Khartoum, a global movement born in 2010 to boost the fight against malnutrition, in which the Italy has the role of Donor Convener in Sudan.
Italy will play a crucial role in consolidating the SUN initiative in the country, through regular and effective communication not only between Donors, but also between the various organs of the Movement and the Sudanese institutions. Everything will be turned in the framework of the Strategy and Roadmap (2016-2020) and will contribute to the realization of Objective 2 of the Agenda 2030, namely "Ending hunger, achieving food security, improving food and promoting sustainable agriculture ".

With 2,2 million malnourished children under the age of 5 in Sudan, the mobilization of the SUN Movement is urgently needed to implement effective actions, share common results and mobilize economic resources with particular attention to the primary responsibility of Governments and a Call for better organization of supporting Institutions.
Italy's support of the SUN Movement is part of a wider Aid plan. In particular, AICS has on-going initiatives to support the Sudanese population in the poverty alleviation and nutrition sector for a total of about 12,5 million Euros, both bilaterally and multilaterally, with the active participation of WHO, UNICEF, UNIDO and UNWOMEN.

The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World – an event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and inaugurated on December 1^st, 2017 - closed its second edition in Khartoum on December 7^th with a final evening in the presence of the Sudanese Investment Minister Mubarak Al Fadil Al Mhdi and numerous local business men.
The event, organized in collaboration with the office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation of Khartoum and sponsored by the Food Group Dal - Dal Food and Nobo - has promoted the excellence of the culinary food as tradition as distinctive signs of identity and of Italian culture, as well as one of the main elements of the Italian brand.