Reintegration Support Services to ex-Combatants I (RSSC I)

IRDS has completed the implementation of the Reintegration Support Services for Ex-Combatants program (RSSC) in Dilling South Kordofan State (SKS). The program extended full reintegration services to 400 Ex-Combatants who opted for establishing small businesses as a reintegration option. The reintegration service for each participant included four main components, namely;

  1. Provision of basic training in small business startup and management
  2. Assistance with the development of business plan
  3. Provision of in-kind reintegration package and support to establish small business
  4. Provision of technical assistance to improve business performance through on site visits to 15% of the total caseload (60 XCs in this case).

  1. Key Activities and Accomplishments

During this project IRDS achieved all milestones set forth in the program:

  • Screened and Registered 400 XCs

  • Trained 400 XCs in how to start a small business

  • Conducted counseling sessions to 400 XCs including civic education on human rights/HIV/Reproductive Health

  • Provided guidance on the development of business plans and Revised individual business plans to 354 XCs after training

  • Developed a catalog of goods for the reintegration packages, approved by the procurement committee and purchased and distributed 400 reintegration packages

  • Conducted follow-up visits to 15% of total caseload (60 XCs)

  • Procured Medical insurance and medical supplies to 19 PWDs

  1. Program Highlights

  1. Training

    In collaboration with the University of Dilling IRD conducted training on how to start and manage small business to the entire caseload (400 XCs). The training took place in two venues one in Dilling and the other in Jullud (70 KM Southwest of Dilling)

  2. Business Plan Development

    After the training 354 participants felt they needed to reevaluate their business plan and opted for a one to one session with their respective caseworker. IRDS facilitated this plan review process.

  3. Package Distribution

    IRDS distributed 400 reintegration packages to the XCs (398 to beneficiaries directly and two (2) packages to eligible beneficiaries of two deceased XCs). The distribution took place in three distribution centers in Dilling, Jullud and Wali. The distribution schedules and the number of beneficiaries on each date and location are listed in the package distribution schedule report

  4. Partnership and Sustainability

    IRDS partnered with the University of Dilling, in Dilling town.   Created in 1994, the University has 5 faculties: education, teacher’s college, Rural Community Development, Agriculture and Science. Under IRDS’s leadership, the University staff adopted an experimental learning approach using brainstorming, role play, and group discussions to allow maximum participation and contribution by each participant, taking into consideration those without any formal education.  

    The Community Development Faculty developed a small business management syllabus which included how to establish a small business, bookkeeping, marketing, civil education (human rights, AIDS/HIV, and reproductive health, for example), and investment. Through this effort the university gained practical experience and IRDS plans to continue this partnership in future programs.

Reintegration Support Services to ex-Combatants II (RSSC II)

Following the RSSC I program IRDS was awarded a second project, similar to RSSC I, with a larger caseload in SKS.

The program goal is to extend full reintegration services to 1350 (1122 + 228) beneficiaries who selected small business as a reintegration option. The reintegration service for each participant included four components, namely;

  1. Provision of basic training in small business startup and management
  2. Assistance with the development of business plan
  3. Provision of in-kind reintegration package and support to establish small business
  4. Provision of technical assistance to improve business performance through on site visits to 25% of the total caseload (or 373 XCs in this case).

Under this program IRDS has signed a contractual agreement in February 10th 2011 IRDS with UNDP to provide reintegration services to 1122 XCs in four localities of the South Kordofan State (SKS): Dilling, Lagawa, Rashad and Talodi. However, on March 13, 2011 the JDDRC requested the TRC to expand IRDS’s task to include Kadugli area, IRDS final caseload was distributed on seven localities in SKS. Specifically, Dilling (366 ex-combatants), Kadugli (505 ex-combatants); Abujebaha (192 ex-combatants), El Salam (57 ex-combatants) and Keilek (2 ex-combatants)

On the 23rd of August, 2011, the program was extended for an additional 4 months up to December 9, 2011; then, on the 8th of December 2011, it was extended a second time and up to March 9, 2012 and an additional caseload of 228 ex-combatants was added to IRDS caseload.

IRDS in collaboration with JDDRC Kadugli completed referral and registration processes to all XCs (1122+228), reported for their training sessions, and were able to successfully complete their training program. Of the (1350) XCs trained, IRDS distributed reintegration packages to only (940) XCs located in Dilling ( 158+228) XCs, Kadugli (305) XCs, Lagawa (159) XCs, Talodi (62) XCs, Rashad (19) XCs, Kauda (2) XCs and finally Julud (7) XCs. Between Oct, 30th, 2011 and January 31st 2012 – IRDS delivered packages to (712) XCS of the original caseload of 1122. The additional caseload of (228) XCs received their reintegration package by the end of July 31st, 2012.

The following are examples of the positive impacts the RSSC II program has had on its beneficiaries.

Success story #-1

Ex-combatant Mohamed Zeifa Mohamed (ID No: 1KDG3020611) is (58) years old, residing in Dilling -Hi Almatar. He has six children in primary school as well as other dependents living only on his pension and small incomes earns from his casual work hardly satisfies his basic needs. Mohamed joined DDR program after demobilized from SAF and attended all the training sessions on small business management provided by Dilling University. Mohamed received his reintegration package from IRDS on April 2012 and set up small shop selling mobiles, airtime cards and mobile accessories. Now he earns 60 SDG as daily income which he thinks quite enough to satisfy his needs and could pay tuition fees for his children. Mohamed is planning to credit small amount of money from financial institutions to expand his business in the future. He feels lucky, by living among his family and participating in social activities in his community. Mohamed thanked IRDS for the support and advices given to him during follow up visit.

Success story # -2

Ali Ibrahim Yusif Taha (ID No: 1KDG3015043) a male with disability residing Dilling – Hi Agoze. He is (49) years old and married with (4) children .Due to his disability he was stressful and suffered from psychological disturbance as a result he was thinking to leave the market where he was working. Ali Joined DDRP and attended all training sessions on small business management provided by University of Dilling .He was delivered his reintegration package(different type of goods) on 3rd of November 2011 , and as he is disable person received additional services such psychotherapy, medical insurance for him and his family members for one year. Now he is feeling well and happy by his business and planning to add new items and goods to his shop. Ali thanked JDDRC, UNDP and IRDS for the support provided and appreciated all the efforts and the advices given to him during the follow up visit.

Success story #-3

Ex-combatant Abu Jangi Musa (ID No: 1KDG3029526) is (52) years old living in Dilling Hi-Altomat. He has a large family comprised from two wives and many children in different levels of education. In the past he was a rain-fed farmer used to cultivate small size of land producing sorghum for self-sufficiency. After joining DDRP program and attended all training sessions on small business management received his reintegration package which was different type of goods, he set up a small corner shop. Abu Jangi now is happy by the business and spending all time in his shop selling goods to his customers. He is feeling his economic status is improved and could use his benefit to cultivate more lands on rain season.