Duration: 18 months

Lead Agency: UNOPS

Pillar 2: Reconstruction

Project Objectives

Improved physical access to return sites and rural villages, goods, markets and administrative and social services through rehabilitation and upgrade of existing roads network.

Introduction & Problem Statement:

The road network and infrastructure in Darfur is rudimentary and much of what exists is badly damaged, due to seasonal effects and the lack of maintenance. Both humanitarian assistance and early recovery activities depend not only on security and administrative access but also on the physical infrastructure, such as rural roads, bridges and drainage systems, being passable.

The rainy season brings significant water flows and flash floods in valleys, effectively disconnecting rural areas from the cities and cutting off key access routes to markets and basic services; reduction in access to the latter being further exacerbated by the reluctance of civil servants to remain in such isolated areas.

Women, children and youth are particularly affected by this limited access. Maternal and under five mortality rates are higher and access to education is lower in Darfur than in other regions of Sudan and this is especially acute in the newly established states of East and Central Darfur, where the main road network consists of simple tracks made by passing traffic.

Selection for rehabilitation work will be made based on the needs of the beneficiaries, consultations with stakeholders, best value for money, and facilitation of DDS projects. UNOPS will ensure that contractors locally employ a workforce (cash for work) in order to generate jobs for returnees, youth and women and provide cash income in rural villages and areas of return.

The road design and implementation will adhere to the National Highway Authority standards and specifications, which are in line with the environmental protection measures for feeder roads. In addition, engineering review and design of selected choke points on feeder roads will be ensure that they are designed in such a way to serve the returnee population and complement other DDS projects. Moreover, the selection of points for rehabilitation will compliment newly selected service hubs established by the Qataris.

Aim:

This Project addresses the critical issue of physical access to rural locations, goods, markets and administrative and social services. This is not a road building programme but aims to construct and/or rehabilitate traffic choke points allowing better access to social services and economic recovery activities for the target communities. The construction of simple road structures will provide an immediately improved road network that will also benefit over half a million citizens in widespread communities by year round access to essential services, such as hospitals/health centres, markets and schools.

Implementing Partners:

The project will be implemented by UNOPS in partnership with ILO and in close consultation with the local and state government and target resident and returning communities. The local Private Sector will also act as an implementing partner.