Sudanese Red Crescent Society جمــــــــعية الهلال الاحمــــــــــر السوداني

1. Sudanese Red Crescent Society جمــــــــعية الهلال الاحمــــــــــر السوداني Sudanese Red Crescent Food Security Experience Presented to the Food Security Side Event, Global Platform DRR 16-19 June 2009 Mohammed Taha Osman SRCS Read Sea State Branch Director.

2. Sudanese Red Crescent Society Background & Context Area of 2.376,000 sq km; Population 39 m; Life expectancy 56.6 40% under poverty line , 500 different ethnic groups 34 living languages. T The infant mortality rate is 62.5 Health spending at US$ 14 per capita per annum The unemployment rate is estimated at 18.7%

3. Food insecurity history The earliest recorded famine occurred in1684, 1835-1838 known as years of famine 1888- 1889 greatest famine Historical records shows that 1913,1914,1927, 1935, 1937, 1942, 1949, 1951 and1957 were drought years. The severe drought in 1984, 1996 – 1998 and 2001 – 2005

4. Food security projects 2005--

5. Achievements Efforts are made to integrate food security activities with other sectors Since 2005 about 609,000 beneficiaries have been supported with medium-term intervention and positive results are obtained in relation to building resilience The food security activities implemented have made significant contribution to disaster risk reduction The SRCS capacity improved to implement medium to long-term food security programmes

6. Challenges /lessons High rate of poverty particularly among rural communities It is long term investment. Need strong commitment Impact of such projects are limited in the absence of large governmental investment in the infrastructures Invest in assessment and baseline surveys Build on local knowledge and involvement Strong advocacy continuous learning process, continuous develop of institutional and HR capacities

7. The way forward SRCS remain committed to take forward the Longer-term Food Security Initiative Working hard and replicate best practices to address more gaps as the country is wide area with huge vulnerabilities. Conduct VCA studies Improving the SRCS state branches’ capacity to implement more longer-term food security projects Better Integration of food security activities with other sectors Enhance fund raising capacity Enhance partnerships

8. Food security activities

9. Shukran