Our co-founder was flown mid-pandemic to the Sudan…
IOM Sudan needed surge support for fundraising and program management during a multi-level crisis, and we answered the call.
Over the past five years, Sudan has faced a worsening humanitarian crisis driven by political instability, conflict, and environmental challenges. The removal of long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019 gave hope for democratic reform, but a military coup in 2021 derailed those efforts, leading to renewed violence. Recent clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have compounded the crisis, causing widespread displacement.
More than 10 million people have been forced to flee their homes, both within Sudan and to neighboring countries like Chad and Egypt. Sudan's fragile infrastructure has been severely damaged, with healthcare systems collapsing, and outbreaks of diseases like cholera, malaria, and measles spreading rapidly.
Food insecurity has become a critical issue, exacerbated by conflict and climate change. Half of Sudan's population, around 25 million people, are in urgent need of humanitarian aid, with millions facing acute malnutrition and the threat of famine. The fighting has also disproportionately impacted women and children, who are suffering from widespread gender-based violence, lack of access to healthcare, and disruption to education. Despite the scale of the crisis, humanitarian aid has been slow due to logistical challenges and blockages by armed groups, leaving millions vulnerable without sufficient food, water, and shelter.
Our co-founder and leading international fundraising expert, Emily Bauman, was able to step in and fill an important gap in the grant management team for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Sudan. She spearheaded a proposal writing and re-structuring blitz with their management teams, which resulted in 10.5 million Euros of new funds. Essential water, health and sanitation facilities were built just in time for the rainy season, and a road was constructed to an internally displaced person camp of 40,000 families to ensure that humanitarian aid would continue to flow.
