MS Sudan is closing by the end of 2010

Due to unfulfilled funding expectations and a merger with ActionAid International, MS Denmark has decided to close the MS Sudan programme.

By Janne Bruvoll, information officer, MS Sudan

11. February 2010

By the end of 2010, the MS Sudan programme will leave Southern Sudan. The main reason for this decision made by the board of MS ActionAid Denmark is the lack of funding.

“We established the MS Sudan programme with the expectation that there would be funding enough available locally to sustain a large MS country programme. However, our high expectations for funding have not been met,” explains Frans Mikael Jansen, general secretary of MS ActionAid Denmark.

The MS Sudan programme was started up in May 2008 – a few months before MS Denmark decided to merge with ActionAid International, an international anti-poverty agency.

“Because of the merger with ActionAid International, we need to consider how our programmes fit into this new global context. If ActionAid was interested in a programme in Sudan, MS could set the foundation for a future ActionAid Sudan but ActionAid is not willing to start new programmes in Africa,” Frans Mikael Jansen says.

Due to financial constraints brought by the financial crisis, ActionAid International has decided to consolidate its efforts in fewer countries. As a consequence of this, ActionAid International has closed two programmes in Africa and will not open any new programmes here.

Democracy activities very important
“I understand very well why our partners in Southern Sudan are surprised about the decision made by the board and I want to assure them that we are doing everything we can to make sure that their activities can go on. The decision was not made because the programme activities are not relevant. But as an organisation, MS has to consider how we can reach the biggest impact for poor people for the resources we have available and the Sudan programme is simply too expensive for us to carry on,” Frans Mikael Jansen says.

He hopes the closure of MS Sudan will not be the end of the activities carried out by the partners in Southern Sudan.

“We do believe that the work that our partners are doing in Sudan is very important and therefore, we hope that other donors will take over. We are negotiating with two Danish organisations that are already present in Southern Sudan on how they can incorporate the MS Sudan activities in their programmes but we have not yet reached an agreement.”

MS is also in contact with non-Danish organisations present in Southern Sudan in the attempt to find like-minded organisations to take over materials, partnerships and activities.