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realising potential Southern Sudan Annual Report 2009
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realisingpotential
Southern SudanAnnual Report 2009
ABOUTBRACBRAC, a development organisation, was founded in Bangladesh in 1972 by Fazle Hasan Abed. Over the course of our
evolution, BRAC has established itself as a pioneer in recognising and tackling the many different dimensions of poverty.
Our unique, holistic approach to poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor encompasses a range of programmes
in economic, social and human development. Today, BRAC has grown to become the largest southern NGO employing
more than 120,000 people, the majority of whom are women, and reaching more than 110 million people with our
development interventions in Asia and Africa.
Since 2002, we have been using our experiences of innovating and scaling up multi-faceted anti-poverty programmes to
energise and accelerate poverty alleviation efforts in other countries. Currently we have country programmes in
Afghanistan, Liberia, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Southern Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Uganda. We also provide support
to other NGOs in Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Peru.
Contents
Women attend weekly Villages Organization (VO) meeting incourtyard of a house in Quanchi Amer Sadhu neighbourhood inthe city of Lahore, the capital of Punjab Province in Pakistan.
BRAC in
SOUTHERN SUDANFrom our launch in 2007, BRAC has become the largest NGO and provider of
microfinance in Southern Sudan. We now operate 45 branches in seven states with
more than 22,000 microfinance members. Up to the end of 2009, we had disbursed
USD 5.67 million in loans to poor women. BRAC takes an integrated approach to
helping people rise out of poverty and realise their potential. We provide support
services in agriculture, health and youth education. BRAC’s programmes are bolstered
by rigorous research, monitoring and auditing. To build capacity we comprehensively
train our members and staff. At the end of 2009 we employed 462 Sudanese (92%
women), many of whom are promoted within the organisation.
It is quite amazing to see how
enthusiastically Southern Sudan’s
poorest people have embraced the
multifaceted opportunities that BRAC
provides to help them realise their
potential. In 2009 we achieved significant
growth in all of our all livelihood-
enhancing programmes that are so
essential to breaking the cycle of poverty.
BRAC is now the biggest NGO and
microfinance provider in Southern Sudan.
As an example of our growth, the number
of microfinance borrower groups – all
women - more than doubled from 662 in
2008 to 1,425 in 2009, a tribute to the
hard work of our staff and the
effectiveness of the programme in
reaching out to the poorest of the poor.
Our cumulative loan disbursement
increased to USD 5.67 million. We plan
to disburse USD 8.3 million more in
2010. Unique among the top
microfinance institutions, we provide the
support of health, adolescent
development, youth education and
agriculture services.
If microfinance can be seen as the heart
of BRAC’s work, perhaps the Adolescent
Girls Initiative is the soul. AGI is aimed at
saving girls from early marriage and
pregnancy through a network of
neighbourhood clubs coupled with
livelihood training and microfinance. With
funding from the World Bank, we will
open 100 clubs in four states in 2010. In
the clubs, the girls will receive life-skills
training and encouragement through a
variety of activities to find their own voice
and express themselves.
Agricultural development is essential to
meet the food crisis in Southern Sudan,
where the capacity to produce food
plummeted during decades of civil war.
As our response, we stepped up our
agriculture Programme in 2009. We
began with a collective demonstration
farm as a pilot project in 2008 in Central
Equatoria state, and expanded to three
more states in 2009. We broadened the
Programme to include individual
demonstration farmers and general
farmers. Expansion will continue in 2010
as we bring the Programme to three
more states. For example, we intend to
increase the number of general farmers
we train and support from 400 in 2009 to
2,400 in 2010.
Essential health care is central to
alleviating poverty; people can’t make
money when they’re sick. From our
microfinance members, we train
Community Health Volunteers who give
health-care services and health
information to their neighbours, and sell
health-related products to supplement
their income. There are now 120 CHVs
taking the pulse of their community’s
health in Central Equatorial and Jonglei
states. We will add 100 more in 2010.
With our participation in the Sudan
Recovery Fund we have established a
presence in all 10 states in Southern
Sudan. Under the United Nations
Development Programme, the fund
awarded BRAC the responsibility to
implement its small grants fund of USD
2.5 million to national NGOs and
community-based organisations in every
state. We have screened the groups,
supported their capacity building and
direct implementation of agriculture,
education, water and other initiatives.
BRAC staff will monitor the projects. This
gives us a window into more states
where we can introduce our
Programmes.
We conduct rigorous research and
evaluation activities to continuously check
on the effectiveness of our Programmes.
Since the Research and Evaluation Unit
for East Africa Programmes was
launched in 2008, the regional research
team based in Kampala, Uganda, has
initiated impact studies of all our
development Programmes and 15
operational research projects.
Chairperson’sStatement
microfinancelivelihood development services
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04/05BRAC Pakistan Annual Report 2009
Microfinance is the heart of BRAC’sintegrated approach to alleviatingpoverty and helping poor SouthernSudanese women realise their potential.More than 23,000 women aremembers of 1,425 community-basedmicrofinance groups throughoutSouthern Sudan. They gather weekly invillages, towns and city neighbourhoodsto make repayments on their loans andapply for new ones.
“I built this building for my business, pay school
tuition for my children and I’m constructing my
house,” said Ajieth Nyanluak Garang, 28, who runs a
small restaurant in Bupthok Market, Bor, Jonglei
State. “I feel really happy because BRAC came to
Southern Sudan so our women can become self-
reliant.”
Ajieth began in business as a tea-maker, earning 150
pounds (USD 66) a month. With BRAC loans she
began preparing meat, fish and a local flat bread
called kisra. Now the mother of three pays four
workers 300 pounds (USD 132) each a month and
earns a monthly profit of 950 (USD 475). “I’ll make a
plan for saving. As the children grow up they’ll find
everything has been organised by their mother.”
Like Ajieth, borrowers are expanding their small
businesses with loans and other livelihood
development services that are central to our
multifaceted approach. Susan Louise Ayaa, branch
manager for microfinance in the Hai Gabat office,
Juba, said that in the space of three years,
borrowers have been able to scale up their loans
from 500 pounds (USD 220) to 800 (USD 350) to
1,300 (USD 570).
One of Susan’s group members, Beatrice Kojoki, 22,
has followed exactly that microloan trajectory in
improving her shop in Gabat Market selling plates,
cups, soap, salt, cooking oil, basins, nails and other
hardware. “Before BRAC I just put things I was selling
on a table. With my first loan I constructed this small
store where I could sell my goods.” At first, Beatrice’s
sales were 20 pounds (USD 8.75) a day; now her
daily revenue can reach 180-200 pounds (USD 79-
87.70). “This money has really improved my life.”
Beatrice faced a setback in May 2009 when the
government demolished squatter settlements in Juba
and she lost her home. “I used some of my loan to
build a new house. From this money I was also
paying school fees for my son, for eating and for
expanding the business.”
The women are often able to make big changes in
their businesses from the first loan. Carmela Bavowa
Rebean, 42, sits among sacks of beans, flour and
other staples at the Konykony Market in Bor. The
mother of eight began in 2008 with 500 pounds
(USD 220). “I saw the difference. I could buy a lot of
sacks, build my family home and pay school fees,
which I couldn’t pay before.”
BRAC wants to take the microfinance model into
more remote areas. “The challenge here is hunger,”
said Golam Mostofa, Programme manager for
microfinance. “People are eating once a day. They
are not working. There are problems with tribal
conflicts. They have no money but we provide loans
without collateral so they can do some business. We
need to move more into the interior where conditions
are worse. My satisfaction will be in reaching them
and helping them.”
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PROGRAMMEHIGHLIGHTS
“The conditions are tough in Southern Sudan. It’s hot, it’s not always safe, but we arecommitted to doing something for the poorest of the poor in the country.” M. GolamMostofa (34), Programme manager for Microfinance, BRAC Southern Sudan.
PROGRAMMEACHIEVEMENTS2009 45
branches in seven out of 10 states –Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria,Jonglei, Lakes, Upper Nile, and WesternBahr el Gajal – up from 17 branches in fourstates previously. We are planning to addthe remaining three states in 2010, movinginto areas that are basically untouched byother microfinance providers.
23,237members and 15,787 borrowersacross 1,425 groups added overthe last year.
306staff by the end of 2009 on themicrofinance team, comparedwith 120 in 2008.
USD 2.27million during the year for a cumulative total of5.67 million. Our target in 2010 is to disburseUSD 8.3 million to 40,000 borrowers.
BRAC's microfinance Programme has been designed
to serve large numbers of poor people with reliable
access to cost effective financial services.
Programme ComponentsWomen's Groups: Community partnerships and
institution building are essential for poor people if they
are to change their economic, social and political
conditions. We deliver our microfinance and other
Programmes through organising groups of poor
women who come together to improve their
socioeconomic position.
BRAC microfinance branch offices conduct area
surveys and consult with community leaders and
local elders to select the 25-30 members of each
group. The group is then sub-divided into smaller
groups of five, each with their own elected leader.
The members of the small groups take co-
responsibility to solve peer repayment problems.
New borrower groups meet four times before any
loan disbursement takes place. After that, they meet
weekly to discuss credit decisions with their
dedicated BRAC credit officer and make their loan
repayments. BRAC provides training and technical
assistance to its members and others in the
community, empowering them to earn more income
from existing activities and start new ones.
MicroloansAt the core of the Programme are microloans, which
are exclusively for the women participating in the
group process. Borrowers range in age from 20-50
with little or no education. BRAC lends to women
who are not served by other microfinance institutions.
Borrowers typically operate businesses that provide
products or services to their local communities.
PROGRAMMEDESCRIPTION
BRAC provides more than just microfinance. We use themicrofinance groups as a social platform to deliver scaled-up services in health, education, business developmentand livelihood support - all critical components needed toensure that poor people can break the cycle of poverty.
4
Women with seasonal businesses, such as farming
related activities, may also be eligible for shorter term
loans.
SUDAN RECOVERY FUNDMicrofinance is not the only way to promote financial
development. The United Nations Development
Programme’s Sudan Recovery Fund for Southern
Sudan (SRF-SS) aims to facilitate a transition from
humanitarian aid to recovery assistance. In 2009, the
SRF-SS awarded BRAC the responsibility to
implement its small grants fund of USD 2.5 million to
as many as 70 national NGOs and community-based
organisations in all 10 states. BRAC has screened
these groups, supported their capacity building and
direct implementation of agriculture, education, water
and other initiatives. The objective of the projects –
47% in agriculture - is to make quick returns to the
community.
Khan M. Ferdous is managing BRAC Southern
Sudan’s coordination efforts and said the grants will
be distributed in two rounds of USD 1.25 million.
“We want to release the funds as soon as possible.
Already we’ve selected our monitoring staff in all 10
states. Our new colleagues are very young and will
do their best. We are committed to perform well,” he
said.
M. Abu Bakar Siddique, Country Manager, said the
World Bank will choose some of the projects for
longer-term funding. “This can be a bridge to provide
support to community projects in the interior of
Southern Sudan. It is very important.”
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MicroloansMost popular loan usesMicroloans
Most popular loan uses
Retailing – grocery, hardware stores etc.
Running a bar/drinks shop
Food cooking and vending
Local beer brewery
Charcoal selling
Selling raw fruits and vegetables
Selling second hand clothes/shoes
Running a beauty parlour
Vegetable cultivation
Poultry and livestock rearing
Tailoring
04/05BRAC Pakistan Annual Report 2009
1
2
3
youth education alternative learning programme
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WIn post-conflict Southern Sudan,BRAC has pioneered a non-formaleducation Programme for children whonever had the chance for an educationor who had dropped out of primaryschool. So far we have opened 110“second-chance” learning centres inJuba, Torit, Bor and Rumbek withfinancing from the Strømme Foundation,BRAC USA and BRAC UK. The goal isto prepare the students to enter theformal government school system at thePrimary 5 level.
If you are a young girl living in Southern Sudan today,
you only have a 1% chance of completing your
primary education. This means that every year only
500 girls complete Primary 8 from the 64,000 young
girls who are eligible. And out of those 500, only half
will be taught by a trained teacher. As a result, nearly
90% of women in Southern Sudan are illiterate. There
are also only 21 secondary schools in a region about
the size of Eastern Europe.
Our approach to education draws from the
innovations of our low-cost, non-formal primary
education model that operates nationwide in
Bangladesh and Afghanistan, but adapts its
approach to meet the needs of the situation in
Southern Sudan.
BRAC has been working on education in Southern
Sudan since 2002 with UNICEF providing technical
assistance in curriculum design and operational
management. All the resulting schools were located
in the rural areas and enrolled only girls.
In 2008, we launched our own Programme with the
target of opening 1,000 non-formal primary schools
within five years. Nine-year-old Chol Makuek is a
student at the school in Cuei Atem Village, Bor. “I’d
like to be a leader in the world. I want to learn what I
don’t know. I like science because I learn about
keeping my body clean. I want to be a doctor.”
We have structured the curriculum so the students
cover Grade 1 to Grade 4 more quickly than the
government schools. Children attend the school six
days a week, finishing a grade in nine months and
then moving to the next grade without a vacation.
The Programme targets children aged between six
and 11 years who never enrolled in school before or
who dropped out before attaining the basic skills of
reading, writing and arithmetic. Many never had any
opportunity to attend a school before because of
decades of civil war and insecurity.
At 14, Foni Mary Justin is an orphan in Juba who
never went to school. Her mother was poisoned by
neighbours in 1996 and her father died of TB in
1999. There were neither hospitals nor drugs. Foni is
in Primary 2 now at Munuki school. “I like English and
math.”
Joan Edwina William, 25, has been a community
organiser in the education Programme in Juba for
two years. She studies economics at Juba University
and wants to become an accountant. Joan spent the
war years with her siblings in Uganda and came
back in 2007. She supervises 10 schools, covering
the ground between them on foot. “The pupils are
getting something from the education as I see them
improve. Now they’re able to read.”
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PROGRAMMEHIGHLIGHTS
“Our biggest success was to be able to open all the schools that we planned. TheMinistry of Education wanted them open by June and we did it. We completed thetraining courses for Programme staff and teachers. And UNICEF provided theeducational materials.” M. Kabir Ahammed, manager of the education
04/05BRAC Pakistan Annual Report 2009
PROGRAMMEACHIEVEMENTS2009 110
schools in our Education Programmein 2009, up from 50 in 2008. The 60new schools are in Juba in CentralEquatoria state, Bor in Jonglei stateand Rumbek in Lakes state. Withfunding from the Strøme Foundation,we plan to open 30 more schools in2010 in Yei, Central Equatoria.
3,300out-of-school children identified and enrolled through our community organisers– of whom 62% are girls – from the poorest households. Some 35-40% are thesons and daughters of our microfinance members. We continue to focus onour goal of helping Southern Sudan achieve the Millennium Development Goalof universal primary education and gender parity in primary schools by 2015.
The goal of BRAC's Education Programme in
Southern Sudan is to educate children who have
dropped out of school or never enrolled so they can
enter the formal government school system. Our
Education Programme follows the government
curriculum of the four-year lower primary cycle. We
intend to open 1,000 schools in 10 states of
Southern Sudan within five years. A total of 30,000
students will be enrolled. At least 60% of the
students will be girls 8-11 years old. We are aiming
for 95% of the children to transfer to the higher level
of primary cycle when they complete their lower
primary cycle with BRAC.
We admit 30 to 35 pupils per school and employ
one teacher to provide a four-year school cycle. We
follow the Government Curriculum. Once pupils attain
a Primary Level 4, they can be mainstreamed to
Primary Level 5 in public schools. All learning
materials are provided free of charge. Teachers are
recruited locally. Prospective teachers are contacted
by BRAC staff and encouraged to submit an
application. We hire only women who are established
as local residents and have a minimum of eight
years schooling.
The main features of our approach are:� School timing flexibility;� Operating in a close proximity to student's house;� Small class sizes managed by female teachers;� Little or no homework;� Child-friendly teaching environment ;� Close and supportive supervision;� Relevant curriculum providing basic education andlife skills;
� No financial cost for students or guardians;� Close involvement of parents and communities inschool management.
We conduct house to house surveys to identify
prospective students and teachers and cross check
our findings with local education officials to prevent
duplication and identify drop-outs.
PROGRAMMEDESCRIPTION
One of the distinctive features of BRAC’s approach is itsinvolvement of a wide range of stakeholders includingcommunity members, local government officials, andprovincial and central education officials.
Potential teachers are hired by BRAC and given 20
days of basic teacher training designed to be
proactive and participatory; placing emphasis on
practice and role-play teaching. Teacher training
includes topics such as the basic concepts of
education, child psychology, different teaching and
learning techniques and how to deal with child
disabilities.
One female community organiser from the locality is
recruited to look after 10 schools each. She visits
each school twice a week to ensure the attendance
of the learners and the progress of learning.
Teachers also receive monthly refresher training
throughout the school cycle to hone and strengthen
their abilities. All teachers are women, which helps
make parents comfortable sending their daughters to
school. This also serves to increase the status of
women in the community.
A school building is rented in the local community,
normally a one-room structure made of bamboo or
mud with a metal roof, no further than one kilometre
walking distance from the students' houses.
Students are taught a curriculum that encompasses
both basic primary education as well as relevant life
skills, such as topics related to health and agriculture.
04/05BRAC Pakistan Annual Report 2009
NEW: ADOLESCENT GIRLS INITIATIVEPROGRAMMEEducation is a major component of BRAC’s Adolescent Girls Initiative(AGI) in Southern Sudan. With funding from the World Bank, we willopen 100 clubs in 2010 through 10 branches in four states. TheProgramme’s objectives are to empower the adolescents aged 15-24socially and financially. There are six components – a safe place forsocialisation, life-skills training, livelihood training, financial literacy,savings and credit services, and community sensitisation.
Abu Bakar Siddique, BRAC Country Manager, said the livelihoodeducation will include teaching skills for both self-employment andwage employment. “Not all girls will have opportunities to invest intheir own enterprise, so we will be looking to provide training in areassuch as hotels and tourism. We will contact employers to assess thedemand.”
For those adolescents who want to start their own businesses, we’llprovide money through microcredit. BRAC’s 20 years of experienceworking with adolescent goups in Bangladesh has shown theiraverage loans are much less than for adults.
The World Bank has chosen the BRAC Research and Evaluation Unitfor East Africa Programmes to undertake a baseline survey andingoing evaluation of the impact of AGI.
healthlivelihood development services
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04/05BRAC Pakistan Annual Report 2009
PROGRAMMEHIGHLIGHTS
“I want to improve our country. The mothers need knowledge how to care for theirchildren. I give thanks to BRAC because they’re learning something about first aid intheir homes.” Joy Micah Tumalu, 43, community organiser, Munuki branch, Juba. Shespent the war years as a refugee in Central African Republic.
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BRAC takes a multifaceted approach todelivering essential health care inSouthern Sudan. We focus on theprevention of malaria, tuberculosis (TB),and HIV/AIDS, the reduction of infantand under-five mortality rates,increasing accessibility to health bytaking health care to the doorstep of thepeople, and improving utilisation ofgovernment and private health facilities.
Like many other African countries, Sudan lacks
comprehensive healthcare. Decades of civil war have
made the situation worse and millions of returning
internally displaced people and ultra poor lack
access to a constant source of food – leaving 26%
of the population undernourished.
The health care situation in Southern Sudan is much
bleaker than for the rest of the country. Under-five
mortality is considerably higher and more children are
susceptible to die from easily treated illnesses such
as malaria (26%), pneumonia (19%) and diarrhoea
(22%). For adults, the numbers of malaria cases in
the south are 500 per 1000 people, which is more
than double the estimated numbers for the north.
The World Health Organisation estimates that health
coverage is only 30%. Only 5% of pregnant women
in Southern Sudan will be attended by a skilled
health care professional when giving birth.
At the centre of BRAC’s approach are the
Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), who are
women selected from their microfinance groups and
trained to provide basic health care. Every day, 120
dedicated CHVs take the pulse of their communities
served by eight BRAC branches in the Juba area. In
2010, the health Programme will be expanded to
three branches in the Bor area in Jonglei state.
The CHVs earn a small income from selling health
care products, such as condoms, birth control pills,
water purifiers, antihistamines, antacids, worm
remedies, analgesics and other over-the-counter
medicines. For serious cases, they refer patients to
other health facilities.
“Since I started to work with BRAC, people know me
in the community, and even some of them call me
‘doctor’ because they take medicines from me and
get advice,” said CHV Sunday Flora Eluzai, 30, in
Juba. She has more than 150 households in her
catchment area and visits about 15 households a
day.
CHVs are supported and supervised by Community
Health Workers (CHWs), who are staff members
responsible for implementing the BRAC Health
Programme at the branch level. Among their duties,
they go into the field to help CHVs conduct
community Health Forums on such topics as
sanitation, hygiene, HIV/AIDS, and malaria.
Mosharraf Hossain, area health coordinator, said the
free antenatal services began in July 2009 and every
month 270 to 350 checkups are performed. “Also
every month we organise refresher training courses
for this purpose,” he said. The health workers check
the pregnant woman for danger signs of edema,
anaemia and convulsions, check the position of the
foetus, and offer advice on proper food and rest.
“Usually, access to this kind of service is limited by
the distance to hospitals. The women are very
pleased with our help in their homes because they
can’t afford transport,” Mosharraf Hossain said.
PROGRAMMEACHIEVEMENTS2009
branches being operated underBRAC Southern Sudan’s healthinitiative in 2009 with three inJonglei state to be added in2010.
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60extra Community Health Volunteers (CHVs)trained to bring essential care services to theirneighbourhoods bringing the total number ofCHVs to 120 by year end. CHVs treated1,270 patients during the year.
1,169health forums conducted by CHWs in 2009,with another 1,467 planned for 2010.
1,626free in-home antenatalcheckups performed by ourteam of 17 Community HealthWorkers (CHWs) under a newBRAC Programme thatrecognises poor women can’tafford transportation to healthfacilities.
The BRAC Southern Sudan Essential Health Care
Programme (EHC) is a scalable model of community
health care.
The overall goal of the EHC Programme is to improve
health conditions and increase access to health
services by providing basic health services in
communities where BRAC has an established
microfinance group. One member of each BRAC
borrowing group is designated and trained as a
Community Health Volunteer (CHV). CHVs serve the
health needs of the entire community, with particular
attention to poor women and children.
Programme Objectives� To increase reproductive health care services byraising awareness, ensuring antenatal care (ANC)
and post-natal care (PNC) visits, and facility-baseddeliveries.
� To reduce the incidence of malaria, especiallyamong pregnant women and children, byenhancing control and prevention.
� To bring positive behavioural change forprevention of HIV/AIDS and ensuring access toHIV/AIDS services through community sensitisationand participation.
� To develop a community based approach toincrease and sustain TB case detection and curerate as per the Millennium Development Goals; Toimprove basic sanitation and hygiene by bringingbehavioural change and ensuring access to safewater and latrines.
� To mobilise women and disseminate informationthrough village meetings and home visits.
� To collaborate with the Government to furtherfacilitate and strengthen the implementation ofnational tuberculosis, malaria and immunisationProgrammes.
PROGRAMMEDESCRIPTION
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4
PROGRAMME COMPONENTS
Reproductive Health Care
One of BRAC's primary concerns is to improve
reproductive health care awareness and service
utilisation. To fulfill this objective, Community Health
Volunteers (CHVs) identify pregnant women during
their household visits and inform the Community
Health Worker (CHW). The CHWs perform antenatal
checkups in the home, raising awareness of
pregnancy care and pre-natal danger signs.
The CHV keeps a check on whether her clients have
taken their Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine. She also
raises awareness of the importance of Voluntary
Counselling and Testing (VCT) for HIV/AIDS, and
Preventing Mother to Child Transmission of HIV
(PMTCT).
Malaria ControlDuring household visits, the CHV identifies suspected
cases of malaria and refers the patients to the
nearest government health centres. She follows up to
determine test results and see if the patient is taking
their anti-malarial medication.
A relative of the patient is put in charge of supervising
the drug intake according to their prescription. The
CHV then conducts a follow-up visit to ensure the
patient's recovery and to make sure that the patient
has not developed further complications. The CHV
keeps records of this information in her household
visit register.
We are delivering home-based management of
malaria as part of the Child Survival Programme of
the Ministry of Health, Government of Southern
Sudan. This is a project in four counties of Lakes
state. Through a community network of our CHVs,
treatment for malaria in children up to five years of
age is provided through artemisinin-based
combination therapy (ACT), relevant information and
counselling as well as follow-up and referral for
severe cases.
TB ControlCHVs implement a well-tested, community-based
approach for increasing and sustaining TB case
detection and treatment.
During household visits, CHVs ask simple questions
related to suspected TB cases (based on
symptoms). When a suspected TB victim is
identified, the CHV motivates that person to be
tested at a nearby government facility. She explains
the dangers that TB can pose to the sick person as
well as the rest of the family. She then follows up on
the patient to determine the test results and advise
accordingly.
Family PlanningDuring regular household visits, the CHV mobilises
and motivates women to use modern methods of
contraception. She provides clients with birth control
pills and condoms. For other temporary and/or
permanent methods, couples are referred to
government primary and secondary healthcare
facilities.
Community Health InitiativesBRAC takes a multi-pronged approach to community
health education. We offer community health forums
on issues such as a malaria, TB and HIV prevention,
maternal health, family planning, and sanitation.
Basic Curative ServicesCHVs are trained to diagnose and treat some basic
ailments such as diarrhoea, dysentery, common
cold, helminthiasis, anaemia, ringworm, scabies,
hyperacidity and angular stomatitis. They refer
individuals with suspected conditions to local public
and private health facilities. CHVs earn a small
income by selling over-the-counter medicines to
patients.
04/05BRAC Pakistan Annual Report 2009
NEW INITIATIVESIn a new initiative, BRAC is the surveycoordinator and implementer for a malariaprevention Programme covering four countieswith a population of 355,000 in Lakes state.BRAC is setting up a field office and providingeducation efforts, training and workers todistribute home-based management ofmalaria.
Community-based distributors will provideartemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT)medication to children under five whilereferring other patients to the nearest healthfacilities. It is part of a campaign coordinatedby the international health organisation PSIand funded by the Global Fund.
agriculturelivelihood development services
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04/05BRAC Pakistan Annual Report 2009
PROGRAMMEHIGHLIGHTS
“BRAC has changed my life by providing seeds and food and tools for my farming. As anextension worker, I teach the farmers how to use modern techniques. I feel confidentand happy because my people are getting support and skills in agriculture.”James Mawei Mayom (35), agriculture entrepreneur/extension worker, Jonglei state
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BRAC Southern Sudan launched anovel pilot project in 2008 on the banksof the Nile River near Juba – an eight-acre collective demonstration farmusing modern agriculture methodswhere the produce of 27 participatinglocal farmers went to their cooperative.Its success led to an expansion in 2009to four states and a broadening of theinitiative to add individual demonstrationfarmers as well as general farmers.
The Programme is our response to Southern Sudan’s
food crisis. So much of the area’s food needs are
shipped in from Kenya, Uganda and other countries
even though it is estimated that more than 70% of
Southern Sudanese are engaged in agricultural
activities for their livelihoods.
The objectives of the Agriculture Programme are to
ensure food security; employment and income
generation; utilisation of fallow land; diversification of
cropping patterns; introduction of modern technology
and the use of organic pesticide, Integrated Pest
Management, manure, etc.
During the long civil war, there was widespread
destruction of farms and essential infrastructure. The
farming communities are slowly recovering but face a
number of problems including low crop yields per
hectare, a lack of availability of high-quality seeds,
and under-utilisation of low-cost irrigation methods.
To tackle these problems, we have linked with
partners such as the UN’s Food and Agriculture
Organisation (quality seeds and tools), the World
Food Programme (food to sustain the farmers as their
crops grow), and the Bangladesh Battalion of the UN
Mission in Sudan (engineering, preparing fields with
bulldozers and tractors).
In selecting the farmers for the Programme, we target
returnees and rural poor but active household heads,
especially women. Other vulnerable groups include
orphans, widows, people with disabilities, single
parents and demobilised soldiers.
For the demonstration farms, we arrange to level the
land, plough the fields, provide high-quality seeds,
tools and irrigation. The farmers are trained in line
planting, plant spacing, proper weeding and other
techniques. Severe drought was a problem
throughout Southern Sudan in 2009, but BRAC’s
irrigated fields produced around double the yields of
farmers outside the agriculture Programme.
“BRAC has eradicated poverty from my life,” said
Dabora Khor Kelei, 57, leader of the collective
demonstration farmers on the edge of the Nile River
in Bor county, Jonglei state. BRAC established the
10-acre farm in 2009. “I want BRAC to keep this
effort.”
The 20 experienced farmers range in age from Ajok
Anyieth Awoul at 28 to Amour Deng Ayom at 60. “I
want to dig even at night,” said Amour. “We did not
know each other before,” said Dabora. “When we
started the garden we started knowing each other
gradually. Unity is not a simple thing. We need to
keep united for our vision.”
BRAC’s Agriculture Programme has also attracted the
interest of other NGOs and the Southern Sudan
government. “The Minister of Education told us to
spread this model in all 10 states,” said Shawkat
Hasan, BRAC’s Programme Manager, Agriculture.
PROGRAMMEACHIEVEMENTS2009
4collective demonstration farms in four statesup from one small pilot project near Juba inCentral Equatoria. The three new states inwhich we expanded into are EasternEquatoria, Western Equatoria and Jonglei.
732the total number of workers in agriculturecomprising of 80 farmers on the four collectivedemonstration farms, 200 individual demonstrationfarmers and 400 general farmers. As we expandmuch further in 2010, we expect there will be4,224 farmers in the Programme. To support thefarmers, we received seeds and tools from the UNFood and Agriculture Organisation, and food fromthe World Food Programme.
52agricultural entrepreneurs/extension workersappointed and training for36 government field-levelagriculture staff conductedin 2009.
The Agriculture Programme addresses the problems
of poor crop productivity, lack of resources and large
areas of fallow land in post-conflict Southern Sudan.
We are evaluating three approaches to see which is
the most effective: collective demonstration farms,
individual demonstration farms, or support for general
farmers.
Collective Demonstration FarmsBRACestablished four collective demonstration farms, each
on 10 acres of land. Twenty local farmers were
selected from the community to work on each
demonstration plot. They are split into two groups of
10 farmers and come every day to work the farm. All
the produce from the farm goes to the farmers'
cooperative. BRAC coordinated developing the land,
providing a water pump so the farmers can produce
crops during the dry period, and giving technical
support with the help of local government officials. By
seeing better results from improved seeds and
effective agricultural tools, we hope other farmers will
be encouraged to cultivate production on their fallow
land.
Individual Demonstration FarmsDue to 20 years of internal conflict and civil war in
Southern Sudan, huge areas of land were left fallow.
When farmers returned they lacked the resources to
get restarted. BRAC Southern Sudan launched
demonstration projects in four states to encourage
crop cultivation on fallow land. We created 200 crop
demonstrations with the individual farmers of the
communities. Land size for each demonstration is
one acre. BRAC provides improved seeds, tools,
training and also technical support. The focus is on
cultivation of high-yielding crops, such as maize,
sorghum and vegetables.
Malaria Control
PROGRAMMEDESCRIPTION
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1
4
During household visits, the CHV identifies suspected
cases of malaria and refers the patients to the
nearest government health centres. She follows up to
determine test results and see if the patient is taking
their anti-malarial medication. A relative of the patient
is put in charge of supervising the drug intake
according to their prescription. The CHV then
conducts a follow-up visit to ensure the patient's
recovery and to make sure that the patient has not
developed further complications. The CHV keeps
records of this information in her household visit
register.
BRAC is participating in a new malaria prevention
Programme in four counties in Lakes state. Funded
by the Global Fund and coordinated by PSI, the
Programme aims to increase the provision of
artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) to 60%
of children under five with fever. As implementer,
BRAC has trained community based distributors to
make home visits, dispense the medication and
promote awareness and participation.
TB ControlCHVs implement a well-tested, community based
approach for increasing and sustaining TB case
detection and treatment.
During household visits, CHVs ask simple questions
related to suspected TB cases (based on
symptoms). When a suspected TB victim is
identified, the CHV motivates that person to be
tested at a nearby government facility. She explains
the dangers that TB can pose to the sick person as
well as the rest of the family. She then follows up on
the patient to determine the test results. If the patient
tests positive, the CHV can also act as a Direct
Observation Treatment Short Course (DOTS) agent.
DOTS involves second party observation of a TB
infected person taking a prescribed course of
medication so that the patient does not default on
taking their medications, which results in drug
resistance.
Family PlanningDuring regular household visits, the CHV mobilises
and motivates women to use modern methods of
contraception. She provides clients with birth control
pills and condoms. For other temporary and/or
permanent methods, couples are referred to
government primary and secondary health care
facilities.
General FarmersGeneral farmers grow crops on small holdings near
their homes. Generally the land size is a half acre or
less. They cultivate sorghum, sesame, ground nut,
vegetables, etc. with seeds provided by BRAC. We
also provide training and tools. The total number of
general farmers was 400 - 100 from each state.
Besides these farmers, BRAC also provided seeds
and technical support to other farmers for proper
utilisation of homestead land. These farmers
cultivated sesame and ground nuts as well as
vegetables on a small piece of land less than half an
acre. The total number of these farmers was 2,646:
660 in Juba, 668 in Torit, 958 in Bor and 360 in
Yambio County.
Basic Curative ServicesCHVs are trained to diagnose and treat some basic
ailments such as diarrhoea, dysentery, common
cold, helminthiasis, anaemia, ringworm, scabies,
hyperacidity and angular stomatitis. They refer
individuals with more complicated conditions to local
public and private health facilities. CHVs earn a small
income by selling over-the-counter medicines to
patients.
AGRICULTURE SUPPORTINITIATIVES
Agriculture entrepreneurs/extension workersand Programme organisersBRAC appointed 52 agriculture
entrepreneurs/extension workers and eight
Programme organisers in the four demonstration
locations to provide support to the selected farmers.
They coordinate Programme implementation at the
area office level, organise training for farmers, ensure
timely input supply to farmers, and also conduct
overall Programme supervision. The agriculture
BRAC PakistanHealth Care ObjectivesAwareness building of the Health Programme
Pregnancy related care: Ante-natal check ups
for all pregnant mothers in the area of coverage
Collaboration with government to educate
about malaria, polio and diarrhoea
Immunisation programme targeting 100% of
children under five
Safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene
04/05BRAC Pakistan Annual Report 2009
recruitment, trainingand research
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04/05BRAC Pakistan Annual Report 2009
RECRUITMENT
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By December 2009, BRAC SouthernSudan was employing 462 Sudanesepeople, of whom 92% are youngSudanese women in their 20s or 30swho are looking for the fast careertrajectory that BRAC offers our staff.Jobs that were advertised and filled in2009 included credit officers andbranch managers, school supervisors,health workers and agriculturalists. Inaddition to these staff, BRAC engaged36 expatriates and sector specialists forthe smooth operation of ourProgrammes.
Often a woman is hired as a credit officer for our
microfinance Programme and can quickly progress to
become branch manager and then area manager.
Some women start as volunteers – such as a
community health volunteer – and can go on to be
promoted to full-time paid positions. In the last 12
months, we promoted 39 women to managerial
positions.
Training is the backbone of BRAC’s Programmes in
Southern Sudan. As BRAC hires new staff, many of
them straight out of college, it is critical to provide
them with sufficient orientation and training. In
addition, BRAC believes in constantly investing in
upgrading existing staff, helping them learn new skills
and grow within the organisation.
All BRAC’s courses are conducted by professional
facilitators who have considerable experience in
Bangladesh and internationally.
CAPACITY BUILDINGBRAC Southern Sudan builds capacity through all our
Programmes. For example, In the education sector,
we open schools in disadvantaged areas where
education services are weak or non-existent and
recruit and train staff and teachers. In health care, the
focus is on providing primary health care and training
Community Health Workers and other health-care
staff. Water and sanitation projects will focus on the
immediate needs of communities as well as facilitating
the development of water management committees
and other community services.
RESEARCH AND EVALUATIONBRAC Southern Sudan benefits from a regional
Research and Evaluation Unit for East Africa
Programmes that BRAC has established in Kampala,
Uganda. In its second year of operation, the unit grew
significantly in terms of staff and projects undertaken,
shifting its focus from data collection in 2008 to
analysis in 2009. The unit is an in-house but
independent facility supporting BRAC’s existing
development Programmes in Uganda, Tanzania and
Southern Sudan with continuous and rigorous
evaluation. The unit provides analysis of emerging
issues so we can continue to innovate and become
more effective.
With the addition of two researchers in 2009, there
are now five on staff, plus field manager, survey quality
controller, data manager and 30 data enterers.
“Whenever we have a big survey we hire around 50
data collectors and supervisors as field staff,” said
Research Manager Abebual Zerihun. BRAC’s data
centre in Kampala, which receives all the data from
the three countries, went to two shifts a day in 2009
to handle the workload.
In 2009, the unit conducted three impact evaluations
to measure the effects and extent to which
Programme goals were achieved, five formative
studies to help create Programmes specific to the
needs of target groups and ensure Programme
acceptability and feasibility, and 11 operational studies
to aid in Programme operations and improvement.
The research findings are a critical means of
communicating with wider audiences about BRAC
experiences on what works and what does not. For
example, in 2009 we presented papers at
conferences in Washington, DC, and Kampala,
reported on our findings to five workshops for
Programme staff at BRAC area offices, and emailed
reports to partners, staff and universities. In 2010,
BRAC is sponsoring a global microfinance summit for
Africa and the Middle East in Nairobi where we will
distribute 12 research reports to delegates.
We conduct studies in collaboration with researchers
from partner research institutions. New initiatives
include an agreement with the World Bank for
conducting research on adolescent girls in Southern
Sudan, and another with Makerere Institute for Social
Research in which MISR researchers will work
collaboratively with BRAC researchers on areas of
common interest.
five big research questions
1 Who chooses to participate in BRAC’sprogrammes?
2 What changes as a result of programmeparticipation? (For example, adoptingtechnology, asset ownership andfinancial knowledge, attitude towardssavings, having clubs/social space andlife-skill training, added impact oflivelihood-training and microcredit.)
3 To what extent do programmebeneficiaries benefit from theinterventions?
4 Is there a “multiplied”effect conditional on theavailability of a selectionof BRAC’s programmes,such as microfinanceplus agriculture?
5 How successful areBRAC targetingstrategies inreaching the poor?
04/05BRAC Pakistan Annual Report 2009
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Audited
FinancialStatementsOf BRAC Southern SudanYear Ended 31 December 2009
