CHL Director joins calls to aid humanitarian efforts in Sudan

Associate Professor Mary Ana McGlasson, Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership (CHL), is in the United States this week to urge philanthropic donors to support the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Sudan.

Associate Professor McGlasson joined calls for critical investment to support local response groups working to help millions of people on the brink of starvation due to the country's ongoing civil war.

CHL is a partner of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), which is spearheading the fundraising call at the Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting in New York on September 23 and 24.

In total, 15 philanthropic and other organisations joined forces to form the Coalition for Mutual Aid in Sudan, making a Commitment to Action to support the lifesaving efforts of frontline responders in the country.

Associate Professor McGlasson said CHL was proud to join the Coalition, which commits to channelling $2 million (USD) in direct and flexible emergency grants to vetted mutual aid groups by the end of the year.

The Coalition also plans to generate at least $4.5 million (USD) more from peer philanthropies over the next two years to expand the reach and capacity of the humanitarian response in Sudan.

'CHL is now mobilising critical humanitarian leadership training and other support to mutual aid groups and local responders in Sudan as they lead efforts to help their communities survive this crisis,' Associate Professor McGlasson said.

'We hope the initiative galvanises further financial and in-kind support to tackle one of the biggest unfolding humanitarian catastrophes of our lifetimes.'

Since civil war erupted in Sudan in April last year, the country has become home to the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis. More than 12 million people have been forced from their homes. Most of them are struggling to survive in Sudan with little or no food, clean water or medical services.

More than 25 million people face acute hunger and experts believe mass starvation is both inevitable and imminent.

Patricia McIlreavy, CEO of the CDP, said the crisis required massive global investment and 'an all-hands-on-dec' response.

'Traditionally, a crisis of the scale unfolding in Sudan would have the international aid system supporting the national response. However, due to access impediments, Sudanese community groups remain the primary frontline responders and currently the most effective means of aiding millions on the brink of starvation.

'We call on philanthropy and government donors to join us in investing in mutual aid in Sudan, the most viable mechanism to reach the most affected communities there, now and for the foreseeable future.'

CHL is formed through a partnership between Deakin University and Save the Children Australia.

Donors may support mutual aid and other recovery efforts in Sudan through the CDP Sudan Humanitarian Crisis Fund. Find out more at disasterphilanthropy.org and on X and LinkedIn.

About the Coalition for Mutual Aid in Sudan

Initiated by the Strengthening Local Humanitarian Leadership Collaborative, which the Center for Disaster Philanthropy coordinates, the partners in the Coalition for Mutual Aid in Sudan share a common commitment to supporting and strengthening the capacity of local humanitarian responders who are best placed to provide immediate relief, build resilience and pave the way for recovery in their communities.

The Coalition is launching with financial contributions from:

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Center for Disaster Philanthropy
• Global Fund for Women
• Global Giving
• Humanity United
• Saphira Fund
• Urgent Action Fund-Africa
• Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
• Vitol Foundation

Six organizations are providing in-kind technical, research and advocacy support:

• ANLAP
• Centre for Humanitarian Leadership
• CORE
• Humanitarian Leadership Academy
• Saferworld
• Shabaka