Evaluation of French food aid in Southern Sudan

Humanitarian aid and food aid have been integral parts of the Sudanese context for decades. In view of the scarcity of humanitarian funds available and the absence of mechanisms for transitional contexts, the funds available via the Comité Interministériel de l’Aide Alimentaire (CIAA) in connection with France’s commitments to the London Convention on food aid, represented one of the rare areas where there was some room for manoeuvre in a complex context like Sudan.

The objective of this mission was to analyse recent programmes in relation to food security and to elaborate recommendations for CIAA’s food aid strategy in Sudan. It has also looked at the compatibility of French commitments under the London Convention and the specific contextual approaches needed in relation to food security.

The evaluation team travelled to Sudan (Khartoum, the South). They met with the national authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, ICRC and donors. Particular care has be taken to link up with other activities in the sector being carried out by other stakeholders, such as the United Nations and other donors, such as USAID, DFID, the EC delegation in Khartoum and DG ECHO. A wide range of food aid projects will then be visited in Southern Sudan.