Community – Based Micro- Finance Project for Environment Conservation & Rehabilitation North Kordofan State lies within latitudes 11° 22 ´ and 16° 30´ N, and longitudes 27° 05´ and 30° 30´ E with an area of approximately 245,000 km2 (15% of the total area of Sudan) and a population of about 1.5 million of which 65% are rural sedentary farmers, 20% urban and 15% rural nomads. The State lies within the arid and semi-arid areas and the agro ecology is characterized by predominant sandy soils of high sand content (more than 90%), low soil fertility, neutral to alkaline reaction, and highly susceptible to wind and sheet erosion. The rainy season is from June to September and precipitation is generally low (120 – 240 mm). The variability of rainfall total amount and distribution within and between seasons is large and occurrence of dry spells and droughts during the season are common. Despite of these prevailing conditions the people of the area rely mainly on agriculture and growing of animals as the major source of livelihoods with very little off season activities for which the need is growing very fast without either financial or capacity support. This project will be implemented in partnership between CAFOD and SOLD (Sudan Organization for Local Development). It aims to improve food security and livelihood of the targets community through reduction of the environmental deterioration and its harmful effects on community economic and social settlement and welfare and the realization of integrated development that work in line with the environment conservation and rehabilitation of vegetation cover. 

The project encourages targeted beneficiaries to diversify their local economic activities and not to only depend on their traditional farming activities with its declining yield and increased harmful environmental impact reflected by the destruction of forestry belts and livestock fodder sources. Livestock fodder constitutes the State main imports and the main income generation sources for many households. The destruction of the environment negatively affects the traditional farming activities and resulting in closure of livestock routes, and conflicts between farmers and pastoralist over natural resources. The project will alleviate the negative environmental impacts through supporting traditional farmers to plant forestry trees of wild fruits species to manage the environment as well as an income generation activity.

The project targeted areas is 3 villages in Shikan locality, Alsund West, Darso and Alajajik villages  The State Ministry of Agriculture (SMOA) and the State National Forestry Corporation will together be responsible for input delivery and capacity building  activities of the targeted beneficiaries in the areas of establishment and management of the grazing and forestry allotments. 

The Project is been designed to be composed in (4) four Components/ Activities: 
1.	Community Orientation, Mobilization, Organization and, Legalization. 
2.	Environment Conservation and Rehabilitation (Establishment and management of forestry allotments) 
3.	Disaster Risk reduction component. 
Income generation/ Saving and Internal Lending community (SILC) component.