Canadian Aid To Sudan: An Overview
By <
http://www.eurasiareview.com/author/geopolitical-monitor/> Geopolitical
Monitor
By David Spenser
Published on May 5, 2013
Thrust to the center of the world's attention because of its collaboration
with the addition of
<
http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/sudans-gold-rush-4805/> South Sudan to
the international community in 2011, the northern Republic of Sudan is one
of the fastest growing and most dynamically expanding emerging economies in
Africa and the world, with an impressive growth rate of 6.2% as of 2011. As
it ranks second in the Middle East and third in Africa in harboring direct
foreign investment, Sudan is opening its doors to the inevitable dynamic
innovation that comes from a population's access to information, education,
and international commerce. The country has been successfully building up
its physical and legal infrastructure, providing foreign investors with a
streamlined administrative process for governmental approval of business
ventures. But equally important, the government of Sudan acknowledges the
irreplaceable value of social capital in seeking to strengthen an already
respectful and cost-effective workforce for the rigors of foreign investors'
standards. Sharing with Canada a longtime collaborative partnership to
better the lives of the Sudanese people, Sudan continues to welcome the
generous efforts of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to
not only aid in the provision of humanitarian assistance, but also to
positively impact the social capital of the country and thus further the
cause of making <
http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/sudans-gold-rush-4805/>
Sudan a more reliable economic partner for Western investors. As per this
fundamental priority, the Canadian Government's focus on providing effective
development aid as an instrument of foreign policy was central to its recent
decision to fold CIDA into the Department of Foreign Affairs, thereby
creating the new Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.
Interestingly enough, the valuing of social capital, as an economic health
variable, has been a part of the country's history for the greater part of
the 20th century, and current efforts to strengthen it are part of the
government's strategic plan to modernize the Sudanese population. Building
social capital means strengthening and constructing the economy upon the
reinforced platform of community collaboration, solidarity, and trust
through solid social networks. In this effort, Canada has had a long and
effective presence in
<
http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/sudans-gold-rush-4805/> Sudan, as
Canadian civilians have been working closely with Sudanese local leaders for
over a century to bring to the people not only humanitarian assistance, but
also an understanding of community cohesion in the face of difficulties.
CIDA is vigorously focusing its efforts to consolidate peace in Sudan by
bringing to bear its vast resources in the country, strengthening its
presence since the peace resolution of 2011.
It would be wrong to characterize CIDA's programs in Sudan as simply
humanitarian aid, as Canada has made it a priority to also augment the
Sudanese entrepreneurial impetus in key areas, including the private sector
local development project titled "Recovery of Coastal Livelihoods" in Red
Sea State, <
http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/sudans-gold-rush-4805/>
Sudan. Harboring a crucially important access to the sea, Red Sea State has
been targeted for local development initiatives by the Sudanese government
and NGOs, as it has a rising population of close to two million people, as
well as having a better-than-average access to education. In close
collaboration with local authorities, CIDA's project in Red Sea State has
furthered the education of locals in the sustainable production and
commercialization of fisheries, as well as small-business development for
entrepreneurs, amongst other activities geared towards the improvement of
the state's human capital, including substantial programs for women. This
program has been active since 2009, and has already yielded extraordinary
results, making this region's success an example for further development of
this sort. Through educational efforts brought to bear by CIDA, and with the
full support of the local government administration, three cooperatives have
been strengthened, and the cooperatives' managerial staffs have been
properly trained in efficient bookkeeping and management skills. The project
has trained 20 extension workers, and has, additionally, provided workers
with two observation tours to successful cooperatives currently operating in
Uganda. CIDA professionals have successfully trained 30 people in the use of
global positioning systems, along with providing instruction on new fishing
technologies. Perhaps most impressive, from a cultural perspective, is that
three women's business organizations have been formed, and though the
groups' profits have been modest, their very existence augurs well for a
broadening of Red Sea State's general population's market orientation.
Needless to say, these results have greatly improved the fishing market's
infrastructure in the region, including the completion of three landing
sites perfectly equipped for the storage and processing of seafood.
Conceptually, the current success of CIDA's program in Red Sea State is
creating a model that can, with due consideration for cultural and religious
differences, be transplanted to other regions of Sudan.
As an emerging and developing economy with considerable economic prospects,
and with full knowledge that human health is a non-negotiable factor for
greater development, Sudan has opened access to CIDA and the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to improve nutrition and food
security in Kassala, Sudan. This project seeks to educate some 8,000
households in maximizing agricultural production and productivity, improve
employment opportunities for women and young workers, and, perhaps most
crucially, strengthening community cohesion to mitigate conflict and produce
conditions suitable for economic expansion. Kassala, located in the eastern
part of <
http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/sudans-gold-rush-4805/> Sudan,
is host to Sudan's top ranked University of Kassala, a science-oriented
institution charged with helping to further the cause of the country's
development.
As the promotion of peace has always been a fundamental pillar of Canadian
foreign policy, CIDA's "Reintegration of Ex-Combatants into Agricultural
Livelihoods" has proved to be a project of great success in a key area of
concern. As the country consolidates peace, the government of Sudan has
welcomed CIDA's successful effort to help veterans settle to a life of
economic production that will contribute to the stability of the country.
Through intense training sessions, CIDA professionals personally counsel
ex-combatants in determining their best prospective livelihood, taking into
consideration their experience, skills, and local economic conditions. Those
who choose to work in agriculture are trained in crop and vegetable
production, irrigation, pest extermination, basic marketing skills, and are
equipped with a package of assorted seeds and tools. Those who choose to
work in livestock are trained in methods of cattle raising and production,
poultry production, and fish processing. The latter will also receive a
stock of animals and feed, as well as deworming tools, and will be supplied
with contacts with the local community's veterinary services. As the project
is nearing its successful termination, a total of 1,896 ex-combatants have
received their full reintegration training, and 1,334 have received their
full support package and are working in their chosen field. CIDA continues
to verify that these fully reintegrated ex-combatants are productive members
of their societies, contributing to the health of their local communities by
increasing food supplies.
As Sudan's economy grows and partnerships with foreign governments blossom
into mutually beneficial collaborative investment frameworks, the time has
come for the bulk of western assistance in
<
http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/sudans-gold-rush-4805/> Sudan to focus
on economic development. As the whole of Sudan is opening its doors to
international business, the vastly increasing dividends of peace should
reach the Darfur region through a more concerted focus on infrastructure and
human capital development in the area. Recognizing this crucial reality,
from the seventh to the eighth of April, 2013, the Gulf state of Qatar
hosted the International Donor Conference for Reconstruction and Development
in Darfur, a monumentally successful enterprise that raised $3.6 billion
USD, including $2.65 billion from the government in Khartoum and $35 million
from the European Union. CIDA's successful human and social capital
development efforts are the foundation stones that will make possible
Canada's renewed focus on physical infrastructure development, especially in
the Darfur region.
The ancient Arabs would famously joke, "When Allah created the Sudan, he
laughed." Though we may never be completely sure what the "laugh" in that
popular saying implied, the Sudan of the 21st century presents the Western
observer with a cultural panorama perhaps unrivaled in diversity in all of
Africa. The ever-growing capital city of Khartoum boasts a 5-star hotel
meant to mirror Dubai's Burj Al Arab, and with a burgeoning middle class
exploiting the country's natural resource wealth, Sudan is increasingly
addressing the problems that have perpetually made national life complicated
in its vibrant deserts. The Canadian people's concern for the human rights
and economic prosperity of nations worlds away from their own prompts their
government's commitment to collaborate with Sudan's own leaders in working
for a better future for that nation. We have briefly outlined three CIDA
projects that do not view assistance to Sudan as simply a charitable
donation, but see in Sudan a partner in the development of its people's
social and economic capital. Given the country's welcoming posture towards
Canadian aid efforts,
<
http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/sudans-gold-rush-4805/> Sudan will
continue to be a CIDA country of focus, producing ever-increasing returns of
goodwill for the Canadian people.
------------[ Sent via the dehai-wn mailing list by dehai.org]--------------
Received on Sun May 05 2013 - 16:57:09 EDT
