Sudan Project: Transparency and Accountability in the Pre-Transition Phase

General Description

  1. Amid the ongoing war in Sudan since April 2023, which has resulted in institutional collapse, power fragmentation among armed groups, and the absence of independent oversight, it has become imperative to establish alternative paths for community-based transparency, documentation of economic crimes, and monitoring of public resource exploitation by warring factions.
  2. This project focuses on:
    – Documenting corruption linked to political and military elites during the war.
    – Supporting media professionals and civil society in producing oversight content.
    – Empowering grassroots initiatives in relatively safe areas to become hubs of community accountability.
    – Structuring legal and institutional groundwork for the post-conflict period.

Detailed Objectives:

  1. Presenting a legal and societal narrative of corruption as a driver of conflict, not just a consequence.
    2. Documenting the misuse of public funds and sovereign resources (gold, land, aid) by military and political elites.
    3. Building a network of local partners to activate accountability tools from the grassroots to the top.
    4. Preparing legal and human rights files for use in future transitional justice processes.

Core Project Activities:

  • War-Time Corruption Documentation Platform

– Develop a secure online platform allowing Sudanese (inside and abroad) to report corruption, suspicious deals, or abuses of partisan/military influence.
– Ensure the platform is encrypted to protect whistleblower identities.

  • Mapping Economic Influence of Armed Actors

– Conduct field and data-based research identifying companies, mines, agricultural lands, and markets under military control.
– Release an interactive map showcasing geographic and economic influence.

  • Empowering Civil Communities in Displacement Areas

– Conduct awareness workshops in refugee camps in Chad and South Sudan about transparency and the right to accountability.
– Support local media to produce video or audio reports documenting aid corruption or partisan appointments.

  • Forming an Expert Committee for Transitional Accountability

– Assemble a team of Sudanese legal experts and researchers (domestic and diaspora) to draft foundational documents for a ‘Post-War Transparency Agenda’.
– Publish a reference document titled: ‘A Roadmap for Building Corruption-Free Institutions in the New Sudan’.

Suggested Strategic Partnerships:

– Transparency Sudan
– ‘TARAS’ – Sudanese Investigative Journalism Alliance
– Sudanese Refugee Organizations in Chad and Uganda
– Sudan Research Group
– UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Expected Indicators (First Year):

Indicator Target Value
Documented war-time corruption cases
30 cases
Local field partners engaged
10 organizations/initiatives
Produced media content
15 videos – 10 podcasts
Platform launch
End of Q2
Completion of economic influence map
End of year

Implementation Recommendations (Considering Security Context):

– Operate via digital platforms and anonymous partners to protect in-country contributors.
– Focus efforts on border regions and displacement camps as entry points for civic engagement.
– Adapt public messaging with non-confrontational language to safeguard local partners.