There had been a large-scale humanitarian crisis in Sudan for many years when the STAIT mission took place in April 2014. There was widespread displacement and insecurity in Darfur, with serious safety and security concerns for humanitarian workers. Instability in other parts of Sudan were evident, along with grave protection, food insecurity and malnutrition concerns.
The Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) invited the STAIT mission to look at a number of areas:
- Leadership and coordination
- Accountability to Affected people
- Reform of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT)
- Communications and advocacy
- Preparedness and prioritisation of delivery
- Monitoring and response
- Humanitarian access
The team included representatives from the STAIT, UNDP and OCHA. The mission members conducted meetings, workshops and interviews with over 75 people in Khartoum and other areas. This included the HCT, clusters, other humanitarian actors, donors and national counter-parts. Field missions were conducted to El Fasher, North Darfur, where the team met with humanitarian practitioners and people directly affected by the crisis.
The team supported the HCT to develop an action plan based on a recommended ‘Package of Reforms’. The HCT committed to the following:
- Adjusting the size and composition of the HCT to improve its functionality, while stressing the need for the UN Heads of Agencies to equally represent their agency and sectors.
- Enhancing protection and engagement with affected communities
- Improve preparedness planning and monitoring
- Seek deployment of a Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in Darfur