Water is indispensable for communities, especially in times of war. In North Darfur, now severely  impacted by the conflict in the country, 700,000 people depend on Wadi El Ku, one of the largest seasonal water bodies, to sustain their livelihoods. Environmental degradation caused by frequent droughts, floods, and unsustainable land use over the past years, worsened inter-communal conflicts between farmers and pastoralists over the access and use of land and water resources.

A dam working properly is a life-changing milestone,” explains Suhida Ibrahim Ali, a member of one of the women’s committees of the initiative, before the situation in North Darfur deteriorated radically. “Not having a dam for many years profoundly changed the village. Young people, mostly men, left because when water is scarce, so are the opportunities to work.”

A 6 year- European Union-funded project is helping to address these challenges rehabilitating the Wada'a dam and constructing two additional weirs - Kosa and Eid Al Beida. Ezzeldine, a pastoralist from Kosa village, notes, “The weir covers now an area of 7 kilometres, something unthinkable not long ago.”

Implemented by UNEP and Practical Action, the Wadi El Ku initiative adopts a sustainable drylands management approach aiming to enhance food security and community resilience and expects to benefit 120,000 households. 

In the last weeks, the conflict has severely impacted many villages in the area, as one of the  Project Managers explains: “Thousands of people have left their homes.. The situation is very dangerous, and the community is suffering from acute famine and lack of clean drinking water.”

Despite the insecurity and indirect impacts of the war, the commitment and hope of those on the ground is still strong. Awadalla, one of the project managers of the NGO Practical Action explains how he decided to stay in El Fasher, a territory that most NGOs have left, to continue supporting the community by making “good use of my relations with tribal leaders, administrations and institutions.”   

“My priority now is to work with the administration, community leaders, natural resource management committees, catchment management coordination agency and technical committee of the project to preserve project gains and to ensure the sustainability of the project activities.” “I am sure that the project will continue and that the displaced people will return to their land to continue their lives. Based on previous experiences, we can contribute to help our partners continue to facilitate peaceful coexistence between the different communities,” he says.

Against the backdrop of the current Sudanese conflict that erupted on 15 April 2023 and dramatically worsened in the last weeks, the project has continued to adapt by fostering dialogue and cooperation among diverse community groups which secured community buy-in and ensured its sustainability. The project stands out not only for enhancing water security, but also for its role in engaging communities and establishing an innovative governance structure to manage land and water resources fairly. It promotes collective work among farmers, pastoralists, local authorities and the project’s staff.

Three coordination committees formed the backbone of the project: an advisory body responsible for endorsement and planning, a technical body providing knowledge and expertise, and a catchment management committee composed of farmers, pastoralists, community leaders and local authorities. This latter group advocates, advises and connects grassroots communities with technical bodies and decision-makers. Awadallah Hamid, Project Manager at Practical Action, highlights “This is one of the potentials and uniqueness of the project.”

The project’s impact extends beyond water security. It also addresses education on environmental protection, resilience of livelihoods, return of displaced communities, and women's empowerment through training and inclusion in agricultural practices and beyond. Several mechanisms were established to diversify and boost livelihoods. For instance, loans from the village saving groups have helped community members to set-up and maintain small-scale enterprises, such as restaurants.

Rokhia, a resident of Kafod, represents a tangible success story. She recently opened a restaurant with a loan provided by the association derived from the project. “The loan from the saving box has not only diversified our restaurant's menu with the addition of chicken dishes but has also significantly boosted our revenues” she says.

As the threat of war continues to loom over the project areas in North Darfur and beyond, it is important to remember the people on the ground who have chosen to make sacrifices and work together to ensure the infrastructures of the project are preserved throughout the conflict for the local communities to benefit from once the war is over.