Medical Coordinator - Sudan

In Sudan, ALIMA aims to reduce mortality and morbidity among internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in conflict-affected areas of South Kordofan, North Darfur, and hopefully, soon in West Darfur. Specifically, the objective is to provide life-saving medical, nutritional, and emergency assistance to vulnerable populations in areas with high health and nutrition needs.

The intervention focuses on 3 key sectors: health, nutrition, and emergency response (Epidemic management).

1- Access to quality primary and secondary healthcare, including WASH, Mental Health and psychosocial support, sexual and reproductive health and GBV services, is improved for displaced and host communities;
2- Prevention and treatment of malnutrition for children under five is strengthened in hotspots to address seasonal peaks;
3- Support for local emergency response systems ensures readiness for crises such as outbreaks, conflict, and flooding.

ALIMA currently provides essential health services in two states severely impacted by conflict and displacement: South Kordofan, North Darfur. Specifically, the project supports health facilities in the following localities:

• South Kordofan: Kadugli and Reif Arshargi

• North Darfur: El Fasher, Tawila

If the ECHO HIP 2026 is validated, we will add a new state of intervention: West Darfur: Geneina and Kereneik. 

In April 2021, ALIMA officially registered in Sudan following consultations with the Federal Ministry of Health Emergency Department and other humanitarian partners. Operations began in August 2021 at Omdurman Teaching Hospital, supporting the management of severe and critical COVID-19 cases. In February 2022, ALIMA extended its efforts to Al Shaab Hospital in Khartoum, installing a PSA Oxygen Plant to enhance medical oxygen delivery and build local capacity in oxygen therapy best practices.

In November 2021, ALIMA launched activities in South Kordofan funded by ELMA, supporting comprehensive emergency obstetrics and newborn care (CEmONC) at Kadugli Teaching Hospital. By March 2022, the program expanded to include primary healthcare services at two health centers and three mobile clinics in Kadugli and Reif Arshargi localities, along with inpatient care in the Maternity and Pediatric wards, and was funded by CDCS.

In January 2023, in consortium with Internal Aid Services (AIS), ALIMA implemented a rapid response for 6,500 IDPs displaced by conflict in Al Lagawa (West Kordofan), establishing a mobile clinic and strengthening services at Kadugli Teaching Hospital to provide primary and secondary healthcare, reproductive health, and care for survivors of sexual violence. This was funded by the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF).

Following the outbreak of conflict on April 15, 2023, ALIMA launched a two-year integrated health and nutrition program in South Kordofan and North Darfur, in partnership with GOAL and supported by ECHO. It should be noted that this ECHO contract was validated just at the start of the war, which led to a significant delay in the start of operations in El Fasher, North Darfur. Despite the closure of its Khartoum office, ALIMA maintained its operations in Kadugli and Reif Arshargi through national staff, and coordinated remotely from ALIMA HQ in Senegal. In North Darfur, the recruitment process started in September 2023, and operations on the ground started in February 2024. ALIMA initiated life-saving nutrition interventions at the El Fasher Stabilization Center and later deployed mobile clinics to IDP gathering areas, adapting to shifting accessibility due to hostilities. In April 2024, Sudan’s coordination team relocated to N’Djamena, Chad, facilitating cross-border collaboration with clusters and other organizations. 

By November 2024, ALIMA established a coordination office in Port Sudan to enhance operational presence. Through these efforts, ALIMA continues to deliver critical health and nutrition services to vulnerable populations, focusing on displaced and conflict-affected communities in Sudan. In El Fasher, in addition to the stabilisation center and Shahgra C PHC, ALIMA extended its intervention to the Pediatric Hospital, which has moved to different sites several times since, due to frequent attacks and shelling of health infrastructure. The SC and Pediatric Hospital have been located in the Saudi Maternity Hospital since December 2024.

Finally, to enhance operational support, foster collaboration with other actors, and strengthen engagement efforts, ALIMA has established a regional platform in Nairobi as of September 2024, spearheaded by a newly appointed Regional Manager for East Africa. 

Security context: 

The current context in El Fasher is an ongoing war between the two main warring parties since April 2023, with SAF (national army) and RSF (paramilitary group) both fighting for ultimate control of the country. El Fasher is the only Darfur State not yet controlled by RSF. 

Since the conflict began on April 15, 2023, almost 15,000 people have been killed, and more than 8.2 million have been displaced, giving rise to the worst displacement crisis in the world*

According to the UN Organization, nearly 2 million displaced Sudanese have fled to unstable areas in Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Meanwhile, mediation efforts have failed to produce results as the leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) refuse to halt their violence, and regional and international actors have taken sides in the war.

Kadugli, our intervention area in South Kordofan is much less exposed to active fighting but is surrounded by contested areas or active fighting, leading to significant blockades from both sides, leaving the population in an untenable situation.

Humanitarian access is severely constrained, limiting options to transport drugs and other medical supplies to all of ALIMA’s areas of intervention. Travel authorizations are required by both administrative bodies: HAC for SAF and SARHO for RSF. This also significantly reduces flexibility of movement and quick action by humanitarian actors.

Project means (budget, HR, materials): 

ALIMA is currently in consortium with GOAL for the ECHO contract 2023-2025, ending in April 2025, but extended for 6 months, until October 2025 through a no-cost extension. The project is funded for 2 years for a total of 8.2 million Euros for the consortium, of which 4.6 million is for ALIMA activities. We are currently finalizing discussions with ECHO on a MR for an additional 6 months.

In January 2025, the mission had 23 national staff, most of which are on ALIMA contracts. However, some staff in North Darfur remain on service agreements due to HAC recruitment requirements. ALIMA also provides incentives to MOH staff in all intervention areas. 

Medical and logistics supplies are ordered internationally with the collaboration of the ALIMA Chad mission through MSF Supply and are sent by road from N’Djamena to North Darfur. However, cross-border movements are fairly complex. For Kadugli, IMO’s arrive in Port Sudan to be transported by road to the project.

Priorities: 

• Continued implementation and management of the project activities: health posts, mobile clinics, Stabilization Centre, Pediatric Hospital

• Conducted an exploratory mission 

• Management of staff health and updating the staff health policies

• Ensured the quality of data collected (DHIS2) and activities

• Reinforce representation and relationships with MOH and other international INGOs, security contacts, etc.

• Continued induction and capacity building of all program staff

• Recruitment of the remaining national staff 

• Continued analysis of humanitarian needs and proposals for coordination/desk

• Continuous security/context analysis to ensure team safety and security, ensuring hibernation/evacuation protocols are in place and adapted if context changes

• Possible extension of activities to West Darfur