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Key Text Service Delivery in a Difficult Environment: The Child-friendly Community Initiative in Sudan

Author: M Moreno-Torres
Date: 2005
Size: 36 pages (278.9 KB)

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Summary

The UNICEF-sponsored Child-Friendly Community Initiative (CFCI) represents an integrated, multi-sectoral and community-driven approach for the delivery of basic services to poor and vulnerable people in Sudan. What are the main achievements of CFCI? How does it differ from other donor interventions aiming to enhance service delivery? Compiled for the Department for International Development, this case study examines the effectiveness of the CFCI approach in Sudan and attempts to draw lessons for donors on service delivery in other fragile states.

Sudan is a conflict-affected, fragile state characterised by both weak capacity and weak political will. The as yet unsigned formal peace agreement, coupled with Darfur's severe humanitarian and political conflict, create a difficult environment for development efforts. Relief concerns have assumed priority. Whereas government structures are weak in the North, they are completely lacking in the South.

The CFCI approach was initiated in Sudan in 2002 and provides valuable insights into the extent to which donor support for service delivery can successfully impact in difficult environments. CFCI is an integrated, cross-sectoral and community based approach to achieving sustainable improvements in the lives of women and children in the most vulnerable states, localities and communities. The approach operates within a rights-based framework. A number of key achievements can be outlined:

In terms of service delivery, CHCI was most successful in the education sector by improving primary school enrolment, providing school materials and organising teacher training.
Significant expenditure was invested in capacity building through training state government and Community Development Committee staff in planning, resource allocation, implementation, information management and evaluation.
In terms of community empowerment and inclusion, many sites achieved broad participation in CFCI plans and activities, with most communities undertaking at least one community project.
In terms of advocacy, the greatest contribution of CFCI was to provide space for the airing of community demands for services, planning mechanisms and, at the local level, providing villagers with rights-based and good practice information.

If CFCI was scaled up, it could create mobilisation for pro-poor policy and a participatory approach to poverty reduction strategies. However, donors need to be realistic about the extent to which such a small and targeted programme can act as a catalyst for wider change.

CFCI shows that where public institutions exist, these can be tapped into to provide service delivery through line ministries and coordinating mechanisms, rather than creating parallel structures.
CFCI shows that service delivery can be achieved on a small scale without NGOs, although any moves toward scaling up would require the establishment of partnerships with NGOs where government structures are weak and overstretched.
CFCI reveals the advantages of strengthening areas where reform is already taking place or where the government is clearly open to reform, in the case of Sudan, encouraging further decentralisation beyond the state level to the localities.
As UNICEF has been present in Sudan for longer than most other donors, CFCI demonstrates the effectiveness of the alignment model for working through government structures and building stable, long-term partnerships.

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Source: Moreno-Torres, M., 2005, ‘Service Delivery in a Difficult Environment: the Child-friendly Community Initiative in Sudan’, Department for International Development, UK.
Author: Magui Moreno Torres , m-moreno-torres@dfid.gov.uk
Department for International Development (DFID), http://www.dfid.gov.uk