Practical Protection for Women in Darfur, Sudan

Summary

This program provides fuel-efficient stoves to Darfurian women, lowering the risk of sexual and gender-based violence by reducing dependence on high-risk excursions for firewood.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

In the current crisis in Darfur, women of all ages are particularly vulnerable to violent sexual attacks, especially when away from their households/IDP camps. Dwindling resources and inefficient fuel consumption practices have forced women to venture in unsafe areas for firewood to meet their families’ basic needs. Providing fuel-efficient stoves is a practical and proven way to reduce this problem.

How will this project solve this problem?

RI will train 80 women as master trainers in the manufacture of simple fuel-efficient clay stoves from locally available and affordable materials. They will go on to train 6500 women in two towns in North Darfur in the manufacture of these stoves.

Potential Long Term Impact

RI hopes to reduce firewood demand by 40%, thus reducing the number of trips women make into unsafe areas seeking fuel for cooking. The fuel-efficient stoves will also have an accrued health benefit as they produce less smoke.

Project Message

“What is needed is a different approach to this emergency. Putting skills and tools into the hands of affected women will give them a chance to survive and thrive even as the conflict continues.”
- John Maris, Senior Program Officer

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources