Enhancing Protective Environments for Vulnerable Populations in Central Darfur The proposed intervention is aimed at providing comprehensive general protection services and SGBV protection services for targeted communities, complimenting existing projects and providing support to the increased need for a protective environment in light of the planned UNAMID mission drawdown in 2020, including monitoring of the protection situation across IDP and host communities. In Central Darfur, access to protection services is lacking in all targeted communities despite the series risks and vulnerabilities experienced by host, IDP, and recent returns. The Jebel Marra region in particular still experiences periodic conflict and small levels of displacement due to seasonal conflicts with pastoralists. These conflicts expose both the IDPs and host population to physical violence, particularly SGBV, loss of property and psychological harm. 
This intervention builds on the results and lessons from the 2018 SHF-funded action implemented by DRC Central Darfur State. In the new proposed intervention, the focus has narrowed to focus on general and SGBV protection in Jebel Marra. The focus continues to be the delivery of services using a combined DRC-led and community-based approach to provide a first-line of protection response. This project also seeks to resolve specific protection cases and strengthen networks and awareness of networks to work toward durable protection solutions for communities. To achieve this, DRC proposes a suite of protection activities including: protection monitoring, building and strengthening of community-based protection networks (CBPNs) in an out of camp, awareness raising activities targeted at both duty-bearers and communities, case management and individual protection assistance in the form of a flexible special needs fund and specific mechanism to support access to civil documentation for children outside the state capital. DRC proposes a combined approach of case management and special needs fund approach in recognition that in many areas, referral pathways are not available or not sufficiently developed to provide reliable and safe services to community members. Through this combined approach, DRC will work to strengthen and work with pathways that exist and can be further developed but also maintain the internal capacity to respond to one-time needs in a flexible manner in cases that require attention but where other support is not available.
Based on the 2018 intervention, DRC has found that Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) are playing an important role in providing a safe space for children to play, learn and socialize. CFS also play an important role in linking CBPN members to children in need and to social workers from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Furthermore, CFSs provide a basis to encourage increased community knowledge of children’s rights and child protection issues, including how and where to find support. To support the maintenance and development of social spaces for children and vulnerable community members, DRC proposed continued operation of 10 Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) in Jebel Marra to facilitate the work of community-based protection networks and to provide a space for life skills and other psychosocial support (PSS) activities in the future.