South Sudan
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Overview
Sudan has faced a complex and rapidly evolving humanitarian crisis exacerbated by conflict, displacement, economic instability, and food insecurity. Millions of people are in need of urgent assistance, with access to basic services severely limited in conflict-affected regions. The country is experiencing unprecedented levels of acute food insecurity, with over half of the population—25.6 million people—facing crisis or worse conditions (IPC Phase 3 or above) from June to September 2024, coinciding with the lean season.
The situation is especially dire in 10 states, including the five states of Greater Darfur, South and North Kordofan, Blue Nile, Al Jazirah, and Khartoum, where 755,000 people are in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). An additional 8.5 million people (18% of the population) are facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4), and the risk of famine is growing in 14 areas, particularly affecting IDPs, refugees, and residents in conflict zones. This marks a sharp deterioration compared to late 2023, with the number of people in IPC Phase 3 or higher rising by 45%, and those in IPC Phase 4 increasing by 74%.
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In response, humanitarian agencies have recognized the need for more coordinated and efficient Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) to address the growing needs, minimise duplication, and improve resource allocation.
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Since 2023, the Sudan CCD Network has been growing steadily, focusing on fostering collaboration between international and national NGOs in Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA). The Sudan CCD aims to ensure optimal quality, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency at scale for CVA through several key workstreams identified during collaborative workshops and meetings.
Membership
The Sudan CCD Network comprises key international humanitarian organisations, including Action Against Hunger (AAH), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Save the Children, World Vision International (WVI), and Relief International (RI). Together, these organisations form the coalition committed to enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness, and scale of CVA in Sudan. The network continues to encourage both international and local NGOs to join, fostering collaboration through shared expertise and resources​.
Governance
The Sudan CCD Steering Committee provides strategic oversight and governance to the network, which includes representatives from World Vision, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, Catholic Relief Services, Action Against Hunger and Relief International. Decision-making is consensus-based, supported by technical working group focused on key areas such as localisation, data interoperability, and capacity building​.
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In July 2024, a Collaboration Manager, hosted by Save the Children, was recruited to coordinate and drive these efforts. This role involves facilitating communication and collaboration across member agencies, managing the implementation of the Sudan CCD work plan, and ensuring alignment with global CCD standards.
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Key Focus Areas:
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Localisation and Partnership Work: Sudan CCD is implementing a comprehensive localisation initiative to enhance the scale and efficiency of CVA, particularly in hard-to-reach locations. This approach focuses on building a more sustainable and resilient local humanitarian ecosystem by strengthening the capacity and autonomy of local partners and informal groups. A key component of this workstream is the development of a standardised "partnership passporting" system that will be recognised across CCD agencies and beyond, streamlining collaboration between international and local partners while reducing duplicate vetting processes and enhancing efficiency in assessment procedures.
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Data Interoperability: To strengthen the coordination and effectiveness of humanitarian CVA responses in Sudan, CCD members are establishing a data interoperability framework focused on deduplication and cross-checking of beneficiary data. This initiative will establish transparent and secure data-sharing protocols while protecting beneficiary privacy and rights, ultimately leading to improved targeting of vulnerable populations and more effective use of resources. The workstream will begin with pilot programs in strategic locations where multiple CCD members operate, incorporating lessons learned to refine and expand the approach. ​
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Enhance Reach and Support Liquidity Challenges: CCD Sudan is attempting to address critical liquidity challenges and expanding reach into remote areas. This workstream focuses on developing practical strategies to extend CVA programs into hard-to-reach locations, particularly in priority localities with higher risk of famine, while simultaneously working to increase the identification and capacity of Financial Service Providers in underserved regions. Through joint market assessments, capacity building, and strategic engagement with local authorities, this initiative aims to strengthen the financial infrastructure supporting cash assistance and enhance digital literacy among vendors and program participants.
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Evaluations of Group Cash Transfers: The CCD network is planning a systematic evaluation of Group Cash Transfer (GCT) interventions across Sudan as well as other countries where CCD is active to assess their effectiveness in meeting both immediate and long-term needs of crisis-affected populations. This initiative will document best practices and lessons learned from GCT implementations, with particular attention to programs that have successfully empowered local community groups in conflict-affected areas. The evaluation will examine the effectiveness of combining GCTs with Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and produce valuable insights to guide future humanitarian cash transfer programs, especially those targeting marginalised groups like women and children.
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