Peace-building and Rights Program Director, David L. Phillips (center), convenes with DDAG leaders in Khartoum, December 2009.
ISHR’s Peace-building and Rights Program has been collaborating with Darfuri leaders since 2007 to assist planning for post-conflict in Darfur. Working with its local partner, the Darfur Development Advisory Group (DDAG), PRP is pursuing a comprehensive agenda for early recovery and development in Darfur.
DDAG is a Darfuri - led non-governmental, non-profit organization in Sudan mobilizing Darfuri civil society in support of humanitarian relief, early recovery and development. DDAG seeks to promote the well-being of Darfuris by collaborating with international agencies and donor countries to strengthen the leadership of Darfuri community-based organizations (CBOs). After two years of meetings in New York and Cairo facilitated by ISHR, DDAG was launched in 2009. DDAG’s current activities focus on training in the fields of organizational development and project management. Through its work, DDAG seeks to incentivize peace and incorporate the development dimension into political talks.
Activities include:
DDAG President, Dr. Mohammed Ali Dousa, receives a certificate in website management from Columbia University.
ISHR’s Danielle Goldberg (center) meets with DDAG leadership in Istanbul February 2011 to help facilitate the construction of DDAG’s website, www.darfurdevelopment.org.
Goldberg and web design experts, Alex Barlow and Leo Woods, with DDAG members at the Swedish Palace in Istanbul (February 2011).
Columbia University Conference
ISHR convened a conference at Columbia University on December 3, 2007. The meeting was attended by Darfuris from the Diaspora, Darfur experts from academia and advocacy groups, senior UN staff, and representatives from donor countries. Participants agreed that a lasting solution to the Darfur conflict needed to address its root causes, which lie to a large extent in the extreme poverty of the region.
Darfur Early Recovery and Development Dossier
ISHR worked with Darfuris and development experts to publish the “Darfur Early Recovery and Development Dossier” on June 10, 2008. The Dossier focuses on opportunities for recovery and development in areas of relative stability that are less affected by the conflict, or where rapid action is possible in the event of a peace agreement. The Dossier describes (i) conditions in Darfur, (ii) immediate/quick impact projects that can be implemented right away in areas of relative stability less affected by the conflict, (iii) longer term development goals, and (iv) data gaps and recommendations for future research and project development.
First Cairo Conference
On November 20-23, 2008, Darfuri academics and professionals from Sudan and the Diaspora met at the American University in Cairo (AUC) to further discuss conditions in Darfur and explore strategies for deepening cooperation among/between Darfuris. They emphasized the importance of seeking common ground, working together, and incorporating the development dimension into the future peace agreement for Darfur.
Second Cairo Conference
Darfuris rejoined their discussions at AUC on June 27-30, 2009 and Darfuris established the “Darfur Development Advisory Group” (DDAG) to work with international agencies and donor countries on humanitarian, early recovery, livelihood and development activities.
DDAG Registration
Pursuant to Chapter (2) – article (5) of the Law of Voluntary Work 2006, DDAG was officially registered and launched by the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) – Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in September 2010.
Training Manual
Darfuris participated in a 10-day workshop to assess international experience in project management and organizational development. Columbia University prepared a Training Manual on Project and Organizational Development, which was translated into Arabic, vetted by DDAG network members, and finalized for use in the field.
Leadership Development
DDAG led 12 project management and organizational development workshops (October 2010-January 2011) with approximately 350 Darfuri CBO leaders representing about 200 organizations (3 workshops in each of the 3 Darfur states and Khartoum with about 30 persons trained at in each workshop). Darfuris trained by DDAG are a part of the DDAG Development Network.
Communications Program
DDAG members participated in a seminar on website development and maintenance (February 8 – 13, 2011). The Istanbul workshop resulted in the launch of the DDAG website, which serves as a communications and management tool for DDAG and an international resource center on early recovery and development in Darfur.
