The Emergency Rapid Response Mechanism (ERRM) of the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) is implemented through unearmarked funds included in ongoing projects that can be accessed in the event of a rapid-onset emergency

Unearmarked money from ongoing projects is used to implement the Sudan Humanitarian Fund’s (SHF) Disaster Rapid Response Mechanism (ERRM), which can be used in the event of a sudden emergency.

The system enables the SHF to work with partners who are already on the ground to respond rapidly to catastrophes. These partners have a thorough awareness of the operational environment and strong ties to the impacted communities.

They have already secured the authorities’ authorization for project activities. As a result, the ERRM is a useful tool for a quick emergency reaction.

In South Darfur’s Majok Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, near Nyala, NGO Alight recently used SHF ERRM money to quickly offer emergency shelter and non-food items (NFIs) support to hundreds of families.

Over 400 households were displaced from their IDP settlements in the Gereida locality’s Dikka, Hadoob, Tweil, and abu Jabra village as a result of intercommunal violence in April 2022, and they sought refuge in the Majok IDP camp.

Over the course of the following month, more IDPs arrived at the camp, and the local humanitarian organizations took care of their most pressing needs. An inter-agency needs assessment was carried out in the camp once the situation had stabilized in early May.

Following the evaluation, Alight provided the SHF with a concept note for quick shelter and NFI response.

While Alight resumed coordination negotiations with the International Organization for Migration on the ground, the SHF quickly responded based on discussions with sector coordinators and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs sub-office.

Four days after the concept note was submitted, the final draft was authorized, and as agreed upon at the SHF discussions, Alight started providing emergency shelter and NFI distribution using less ERRM than was first planned.

As part of the continuing SHF project, Alight staff members in the area verified and registered applicants and started purchasing shelter supplies.

Within three weeks of Alight presenting the ERRM concept note, all 1,250 IDPs (250 families) who were targeted had a functional shelter after two further coordination sessions with neighborhood groups and the community.

According to Lisa Mavisi, the manager of grants and business development at Alight, “The displaced individuals were living in open locations with some seeking cover under trees at the time of completing an inter-agency assessment to evaluate the needs.

They were fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, which made things extremely difficult.

The distribution of shelters began on May 26 and ended on May 30.

We were able to help all 250 families, meeting 100% of our goal, by cooperating with the Emergency Shelter/NFIs sector partners, the Humanitarian Aid Commission, and local authorities.

In total, 397 families will receive NFIs and kitchen sets in June after an additional 147 families receive them.

In order to avoid crowding, the delivery of NFIs and kitchen sets was scheduled for the day after IDPs had finished erecting their structures.

Alight was able to employ the fast and flexible ERRM arrangement once more with the remaining portion of the money in June 2022 for an urgent nutrition response at the stabilization center in Kalma camp because it only used the fraction of the ERRM required for the shelter and NFI response.