Co-funded by the European Union

Better Migration Managment (BMM)

in Sudan

General context

Due to its geographic location, Sudan has always

been a major transit and destination country for

migrants on all routes and is a well-known host

for large flows of migrants, refugees and asylum

seekers. According to UNHCR, the country hosts

approximately 750.000 South Sudanese and

100.000 Eritrean refugees alone, while refugees

from war-torn Syria and Yemen, and internally

displaced persons are additionally increasing the

already high number. The majority of people who

transit through Sudan are Eritreans, Ethiopians,

Somalis, and South Sudanese. Sudan’s vast size,

the desert climate as well as its economic and

geopolitical complexity make the situation for

migrants and displaced one of the most

challenging in the region.

Sudan has become an important hub for

traffickers and smugglers. The Government of

Sudan has taken first steps to curb these crimes

by establishing inter-agency coordination bodies.

BMM’s approach and activities

The Better Migration Management (BMM)

programme is funded by the European Union and

Germany. The overall objective is to improve

national and regional migration management, and

in particular to address the trafficking and

smuggling of migrants within the countries of the

Horn of Africa. The priority is to strengthen the

rights of migrants and protect them more

effectively from violence, abuse, and exploitation.

Its geographical focus in Sudan is on the regions

of Khartoum, Gedaref, Kassala, Northern and

River Nile State.

Given the complex and country-specific situation,

cooperation with the Government is handled with

utmost care. In doing so, conflict sensitivity on

implementation and special procurement

principles to exclude the usage of equipment for

security or military matters apply at all times

women and children. BMM trains several local

non-governmental organisations to strengthen

their capacities as service providers. The

Sudanese Organisation for Development and

Human Appeal International receives trainings on

managing safe houses, developing services and

activities for residents, protecting victims of

trafficking, and managing local subsidies.

BMM also leads a process to establish an improved

migrant referral system in Gedaref State with

structured assistance and services to migrants,

such as: medical care, psychosocial support, legal

aid and translation.

4. Awareness Raising

BMM raise awareness on alternative livelihood

options, including safe migration, in cross-border

regions. Activities are conducted in full respect of

the human rights of migrants, regardless of their

status, and in support of the needs of particularly

vulnerable groups. Gedaref State and Amhara

region on the border between Sudan and Ethiopia

have been identified as priority intervention areas.

First aid measures for migrants

‘Migrants cross very long distances through the desert. They face numerous challenges on their journey, often being dehydrated, bitten by scorpions or snakes, injured, infected, or hurt by smugglers or human traffickers. First responders on the borders have to be trained to provide immediate assistance. We did a theoretical lesson and a practical, realistic simulation in the field. We even had a professional make-up specialist who showed the participants how snakebites and bone fractures look like. That way, we raised awareness on such injuries and how to respond to them. First aid increases safety and helps to save lives.’

Sami Adam is the manager of the Northern State branch of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society and organised the trainings.

whilst simultaneously maintaining the highest

international human rights standards. The BMM

Steering Committee agreed on a special Sudan

Concept Note and Procurement Process and

Principles. The in-country staff monitors imple-

mentation closely to adhere to these guidelines.

1. Policy harmonisation and cooperation

BMM supports the Government of Sudan in

establishing coherent government coordination

mechanisms to better manage migration and

address trafficking in persons and smuggling of

migrants. The government responded to the

challenges by creating the National Committee on

Counter Trafficking (NCCT) as a national

coordination mechanism in 2014. The NCCT is

mandated to address the causes of human

trafficking and is composed of members from all

relevant government ministries and bodies.

BMM’s support focusses on implementing its

national action plan.

2. Capacity building

BMM’s objective is to strengthen the capacity of

all public and national institutions, and agencies

responsible for migration and border manage-

ment. BMM conducts trainings for relevant

government officials on integrated border

management, document security, fraud detection,

assistance to migrants, identification of victims of

trafficking, and investigation as well as

prosecution of human trafficking cases. BMM

additionally supports first aid trainings in

cooperation with the Sudanese Red Crescent

Society for more than 100 customs and

immigration officials, and increases their capacity

in responding to medical emergencies during the

migration journey.

3. Protection

BMM improves the protection of victims of

trafficking and vulnerable migrants, especially

women and children. BMM trains several local

Published by Deutsche Gesellschaft für

Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Registered offices

Bonn und Eschborn, Germany

Better Migration Management / GIZ

Rue de la Charité 33/ Liefdadigheidstraat 33

1210 Bruxelles/Brussels

Belgique/België

www.giz.de/en/weltweit/40602.html

Contact sabine.wenz@giz.de

https://ec.europa.eu/trustfundforafrica/node/162

Contact BMM Regional Office Sudan / Eritrea

pierre.jaubert@giz.de

Design/Layout cmuk, Wiesbaden

Photo credits

Map credits

GIZ

Central Intelligence Agency's

World Factbook / Public Domain

The programme is co-funded by the European Union and the

German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and

Development (BMZ). GIZ is responsible for the content of this

publication.

As at Brussels 2018