We are not animals. We don’t just need food and water to live. We like to make ourselves look beautiful and dance even when we are hungry​

Sudan

Sudan

Self-protection, local agency and aid in Sudan's Nuba Mountains

This visual story explores local efforts to meet protection needs by communities isolated from traders, aid workers and the media in areas declared ‘no-go zones’ during the armed conflict in Sudan from 2011.

Fighting bombs with Perfume

A short video about women-led protection in Sudan from September 2014.

Research

Experiences with local and global responses to the protection crises

Women-led protection in South Kordofan, Sudan

Protection in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains: Local achievements, international failures

Justin Corbett

2010-2015

Abdalla K, Laila, Hawa M, Mary I, Musa M and Kocho C.

2014

Justin Corbett

2012

This paper reflects on the range of experiences of conflict-affected communities and international agencies responding to four years of devastating civil war in the South Kordofan and Southern Blue Nile regions of Sudan.

A detailed exploration of community-based protection activities of local NGOs and in particular the local Women’s Association.

Early findings from a local civil society initiative with self-protection in South Kordofan and the Nuba Moutains.

Learning from the Nuba: Civilian resilience and self-protection during conflict in South Kordofan (Sudan)

Justin Corbett

2011

The full study presents the findings from a field-study in the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan State, Sudan. Its intention was to learn from the experiences, perceptions and insights of local communities who lived through the 1986-2005 war and subsequent Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 to 2011.
In June 2011, while the lead researcher was in Nuba cross-checking core study findings and possible further practical applications, the current ongoing conflict started and quickly spread across much of the original research area.  This rapid and brutal return to war provided a tragic opportunity to extend the study, one that clearly required a more hands-on, action-oriented approach to learning by doing.
Based on extensive local research, the study elaborates on a number of issues such as:

  • The holistic nature and local understanding of protection
  • The role of self protection – opportunities and limitations
  • vulnerability of women v. their roles in providing protection
  • Perceptions of armed forces and groups
  • International protection – weaknesses and potential to improve
  • Protecting the peace
  • Protection during “real time” conflict – august 2011

Experiences with local and global responses to the protection crises

Justin Corbett

2010-2015

This paper reflects on the range of experiences of conflict-affected communities and international agencies responding to four years of devastating civil war in the South Kordofan and Southern Blue Nile regions of Sudan.

Women-led protection in South Kordofan, Sudan

Abdalla K, Laila, Hawa M, Mary I, Musa M and Kocho C.

2014

A detailed exploration of community-based protection activities of local NGOs and in particular the local Women’s Association.

Protection in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains: Local achievements, international failures

Justin Corbett

2012

Early findings from a local civil society initiative with self-protection in South Kordofan and the Nuba Moutains.

Learning from the Nuba: Civilian resilience and self-protection during conflict in South Kordofan (Sudan)

Justin Corbett

2011

The full study presents the findings from a field-study in the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan State, Sudan. Its intention was to learn from the experiences, perceptions and insights of local communities who lived through the 1986-2005 war and subsequent Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 to 2011.
In June 2011, while the lead researcher was in Nuba cross-checking core study findings and possible further practical applications, the current ongoing conflict started and quickly spread across much of the original research area.  This rapid and brutal return to war provided a tragic opportunity to extend the study, one that clearly required a more hands-on, action-oriented approach to learning by doing.
Based on extensive local research, the study elaborates on a number of issues such as:

  • The holistic nature and local understanding of protection
  • The role of self protection – opportunities and limitations
  • vulnerability of women v. their roles in providing protection
  • Perceptions of armed forces and groups
  • International protection – weaknesses and potential to improve
  • Protecting the peace
  • Protection during “real time” conflict – august 2011