Sudan

Our plan in Sudan

Plan is working at the grassroots level in Sudan to empower communities to bring real and lasting change, so that their children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Sudan has been enduring a civil war between the government in the North and the rebels in the South for more than two decades.  So far, this crisis has not affected Plan’s community development programs in northern Sudan, where Plan has been working since 1977.  Plan Sudan's programs aim to address the following issues affecting children:

• Vulnerability to endemic and infectious diseases
• Poor sanitation and access to safe water
• Low access to quality education
• Food insecurity and low household income
• Limited child participation

Plan also has emergency humanitarian response and support programs in the southern and Darfur regions of Sudan.  Plan has been in Darfur since 2005 and its southern program was established in 2006.  Plan Sudan's programs aim to provide education and basic services for homeless refugee children, women and men.

Plan’s programs and strategies to address issues affected by children and their families in Sudan include:

Health

Sudan’s infant mortality rate is estimated at 65 per 1,000 births and children are particularly vulnerable to endemic and infectious diseases.  Plan Sudan works with community groups to support health activities regarding child survival, immunisation, malaria control and safe motherhood nutrition.  Plan supports health and disease awareness programs and works to improve basic health services by providing basic medical equipment and training.

Water and sanitation

Plan Sudan works with women’s and children’s groups to improve capacity for better hygiene and sanitation practices.  Plan also works to improve water access, water resource usage and community management of water and sanitation resources and programs.

Education

In Sudan, nearly 80% of children between four and five years of age have no access to early childhood education, one in every eight children works for a living and approximately 34% of girls between nine and 13 years old are married.  Plan Sudan supports the community education plan, with an emphasis on girls’ education, by promoting active participation in school management, advocating for monitoring of school standards and free, compulsory basic education and improving the school environment.

Household economic security

Plan Sudan works to improve household economic security by providing farmer training for more effective agricultural and farming practices, business management training and vocational skills.  Plan also encourages environmental conservation and provides access to financial and advisory services for vulnerable families.

Country Facts

Country	Sudan	Australia
Flag
Population	35.5 Million	19.9 Million
Language	Arabic	English
Capital	Khartoum	Canberra
GDP per capita (USD/year)	594	$29,000
Life expectancy	56.5	80.3
Access to safe drinking water	70%	100%
Literacy	60.9%	100%
Source:	United Nations: Millennium Development Goals Report 2006