The Mutual Aid Sudan Coalition is a network of diverse organizations, including philanthropies, implementing partners, and Sudanese NGO’s, dedicated to providing direct, flexible funding to local groups addressing Sudan’s humanitarian crisis. Unlike traditional models, the Coalition adapts its approach to support mutual aid actors on their terms.
The Coalition was formed to address the disparity between the success of informal groups in delivering aid and the minimal direct funding they receive, currently less than 1% of international humanitarian funding. By offering mechanisms for rapid, cost-efficient fund transfers, the Coalition supports a highly-decentralized network of Sudanese organizations according to their humanitarian priorities.
Additionally, the Coalition offers comprehensive financial, technical, and advocacy support to mutual aid leaders, following their guidance and requests. This approach represents a fundamental shift in the way aid is administered, emphasizing localization and empowering local actors.
Why is the coalition needed?
The scale of assistance achieved through the traditional international aid system is vital in emergencies like Sudan, yet they are poorly equipped to support local groups, particularly mutual aid initiatives. Local initiatives must spend significant effort and time adapting their work and operating models to fit donors' priorities rather than delivering what their communities need. Those that are not formalized NGOs are then excluded from traditional funding altogether. As a result, vital first responders, like ERRs, end up under-resourced despite being on the ground delivering assistance on the frontlines.
Mutual aid groups in Sudan are able to provide effective reporting by first prioritizing that affected communities receive the high-quality, life-saving assistance they need. In this system of accountability, local groups are 100% trusted to know where, what and how their resources can be deployed most effectively and to make that their primary objective, meaning they are accountable for providing what their communities need rather than meeting external priorities.