The DFID launched the BSF for Southern Sudan in January 2006. It is part of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Southern-Sudan (MDTF-S) and is managed by the Joint Donor Team office, based in Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan. Contributors to the MDTF-S are the governments of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The purpose of the programme is:
‘To assist the Government of Southern Sudan with the provision of basic services, via non government actors, to the most under-served populations in Southern Sudan. Basic services are defined as primary education, primary health care and basic water, sanitation, and hygiene education’ (DFID).
In the first round, over 113 project proposals were submitted to the DFID, only six of which were selected for funding. Caritas Switzerland, along with Oxfam, Medair, AMREF and Save the Children – US, were among the successful bidders.
Stressing the complementary nature of water and sanitation, education and health, the Bridge Project employs a 3-Sector Wide Approach (SWA), thus addressing each of the BSF’s priorities. The linkages between the three sectors are such that they are difficult to handle in isolation; the project is therefore using a holistic approach to link all three components of the project. The 3-SWA is further complemented by increasing the capacities of local authorities and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) throughout the sectors in a targeted manner.
Caritas Switzerland was informed about their successful bid for the BSF for South Sudan towards the end of January 2006. The Bridge Project was to start in February 2006. However, preparing and signing the grant agreement had taken longer than anticipated, thus delaying the transfer from DFID to mid-July 2006. The Bridge Project was nevertheless initiated before the agreement was signed. The Caritas head office advanced funds and preparation works started; equipment was ordered and purchased, the preparation of the base construction in Torit started as well as recruitment of staff (see Torit Base Camp). The main focus during the first six months was to put the project team in place, to contact various stakeholders and to become fully operational.
