Call for EOIs: Food Security and Assistance Program in North Darfur (Sudan)

Deadline: 09-Jun-2026

The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) for the 2026 GFA North Darfur (Al Fashir) Initiative to support emergency food assistance and nutrition interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable communities in Sudan. The program seeks qualified partners capable of delivering food, cash, and nutrition assistance while ensuring protection-sensitive, inclusive, and accountable humanitarian operations in one of the world’s most severe food security crises.

Program Overview

The 2026 GFA North Darfur (Al Fashir) Initiative is a humanitarian response program led by the World Food Programme to address urgent food and nutrition needs among populations affected by conflict and displacement in North Darfur, Sudan.

The initiative focuses on delivering life-saving assistance to internally displaced persons, vulnerable resident populations, women, children, and other at-risk groups affected by ongoing insecurity and limited access to essential services.

The program forms part of broader humanitarian efforts aimed at reducing acute food insecurity, preventing malnutrition, strengthening community resilience, and supporting vulnerable households in conflict-affected areas.

Program Details

• Program Name: GFA North Darfur (Al Fashir) Initiative 2026
• Lead Organization: World Food Programme (WFP)
• Location: North Darfur, Sudan
• Primary Area of Intervention: Al Fashir and surrounding communities
• Program Type: Humanitarian food assistance and nutrition support
• Target Populations: IDPs, vulnerable residents, women, children, and at-risk households
• Application Type: Call for Expression of Interest (EOI)

Key Focus Areas

The initiative supports activities related to:

• Food security
• Emergency food assistance
• Humanitarian response
• Internally displaced persons (IDPs)
• Cash-based assistance
• In-kind food distribution
• Nutrition support
• Maternal and child nutrition
• Severe acute malnutrition prevention
• Protection-sensitive programming
• Community engagement
• Social cohesion
• Beneficiary registration
• Biometric verification
• Accountability to affected populations
• Inclusive humanitarian assistance
• Emergency livelihoods support

Humanitarian Context in Sudan

Sudan is currently experiencing one of the most severe food security and humanitarian crises globally.

Ongoing conflict, population displacement, restricted humanitarian access, economic instability, and deteriorating nutrition conditions have significantly increased vulnerability across many regions.

Particularly affected areas include:

• North Darfur
• Greater Darfur
• Greater Kordofan
• Conflict-affected communities
• Displacement camps
• Remote rural areas

Millions of people face acute food insecurity, while some communities are experiencing famine-like conditions and severe humanitarian needs.

Purpose of the Initiative

The program seeks to ensure that vulnerable populations receive timely and appropriate food and nutrition assistance.

Key objectives include:

• Addressing immediate food shortages.
• Reducing hunger among displaced families.
• Supporting vulnerable host communities.
• Preventing malnutrition among children and mothers.
• Promoting equitable access to assistance.
• Strengthening protection and accountability mechanisms.
• Supporting community stability and social cohesion.

The initiative emphasizes inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches to humanitarian assistance delivery.

Types of Assistance Provided

Selected partners may support multiple forms of humanitarian assistance.

In-Kind Food Assistance

Food commodities are distributed directly to eligible households to help meet immediate consumption needs.

Support may include:

• Household food baskets
• Staple food commodities
• Emergency food rations

Cash-Based Assistance

Where operationally feasible, cash transfers may be used to support food access and household purchasing power.

Benefits include:

• Greater flexibility for beneficiaries
• Support for local markets
• Improved household decision-making

Nutrition Assistance

The initiative includes targeted nutrition support for vulnerable groups.

Priority beneficiaries include:

• Children aged 6–59 months
• Pregnant women
• Lactating women
• Malnourished children
• Nutritionally vulnerable households

Priority Beneficiary Groups

Special attention is given to populations facing heightened risks.

Priority groups include:

• Internally displaced persons (IDPs)
• Vulnerable resident communities
• Women-headed households
• Pregnant women
• Breastfeeding mothers
• Adolescent girls
• Children under five years of age
• Individuals affected by severe acute malnutrition
• Households with limited livelihood opportunities

The program aims to ensure equitable access to assistance while minimizing exclusion and protection risks.

Protection and Inclusion Measures

Protection-sensitive programming is a core component of the initiative.

Partners are expected to support:

• Safe distribution mechanisms
• Gender-sensitive programming
• Community consultations
• Feedback and complaint systems
• Protection risk monitoring
• Inclusive participation processes
• Safeguarding measures for vulnerable groups

The approach seeks to ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered safely, fairly, and with dignity.

Community Engagement and Social Cohesion

The initiative recognizes the importance of community participation in humanitarian operations.

Expected activities include:

• Community outreach
• Awareness campaigns
• Beneficiary consultations
• Community feedback systems
• Conflict-sensitive programming
• Local stakeholder engagement

These activities help improve accountability and strengthen trust between humanitarian actors and affected populations.

Biometric Registration and Beneficiary Verification

The program includes registration and verification of beneficiaries through WFP biometric systems.

Objectives include:

• Accurate beneficiary identification
• Reduced duplication
• Improved targeting
• Enhanced accountability
• Efficient assistance delivery
• Transparent resource management

Partners must be capable of supporting registration and verification processes in accordance with WFP standards and data protection requirements.

Expected Results

The initiative aims to achieve the following outcomes:

• Delivery of emergency food assistance to vulnerable households.
• Improved access to nutritious food.
• Increased support for displaced populations.
• Enrollment of children and mothers in nutrition programs.
• Accurate registration and verification of beneficiaries.
• Enhanced protection and accountability mechanisms.
• Strengthened community engagement and participation.
• Improved food security outcomes in targeted communities.

Who Is Eligible?

The Call for Expression of Interest is intended for organizations capable of implementing humanitarian food assistance and nutrition activities in North Darfur.

Potential applicants may include:

• National non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• International NGOs
• Humanitarian organizations
• Community-based organizations
• Civil society organizations
• Relief and development agencies
• Organizations with experience in food security and nutrition programming

Applicants should demonstrate operational capacity, humanitarian experience, and the ability to work in complex and conflict-affected environments.

How the Program Works

Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest

Interested organizations submit documentation demonstrating their qualifications, experience, and operational capacity.

Step 2: Capacity Assessment

WFP evaluates applicants based on technical expertise, programmatic experience, and operational readiness.

Step 3: Partner Selection

Qualified organizations are shortlisted and selected based on program requirements and implementation capacity.

Step 4: Operational Planning

Selected partners coordinate with WFP to develop implementation plans and operational arrangements.

Step 5: Beneficiary Registration

Partners support identification, targeting, and biometric registration of beneficiaries.

Step 6: Assistance Delivery

Food, cash, and nutrition interventions are delivered to eligible beneficiaries.

Step 7: Monitoring and Reporting

Partners monitor implementation progress, submit reports, and support accountability mechanisms.

Why This Initiative Matters

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to affect millions of people who face severe food insecurity and displacement.

This initiative contributes to:

• Saving lives through emergency assistance.
• Preventing hunger and malnutrition.
• Supporting vulnerable families.
• Protecting women and children.
• Strengthening humanitarian coordination.
• Improving accountability and transparency.
• Promoting social cohesion in conflict-affected communities.

By combining food assistance, nutrition support, and protection-sensitive approaches, the program addresses both immediate needs and broader humanitarian priorities.

Tips for a Strong Expression of Interest

• Demonstrate experience in humanitarian food assistance.
• Highlight expertise in nutrition programming.
• Show capacity to operate in conflict-affected settings.
• Present strong community engagement approaches.
• Explain beneficiary targeting and accountability mechanisms.
• Demonstrate experience with protection-sensitive programming.
• Include evidence of operational and logistical capacity.
• Highlight partnerships and local presence.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting incomplete organizational information.
• Failing to demonstrate relevant humanitarian experience.
• Providing weak monitoring and reporting plans.
• Ignoring protection and safeguarding requirements.
• Overlooking community engagement mechanisms.
• Not demonstrating logistics and operational capacity.
• Failing to address beneficiary registration processes.
• Providing unrealistic implementation approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the GFA North Darfur Initiative?

It is a WFP humanitarian assistance program designed to provide food, cash, and nutrition support to vulnerable populations affected by conflict and displacement in North Darfur, Sudan.

Who are the primary beneficiaries?

The initiative targets internally displaced persons, vulnerable resident communities, women, children, pregnant and lactating women, and other at-risk households.

What types of assistance will be provided?

Assistance may include in-kind food distributions, cash-based support, nutrition interventions, and beneficiary registration services.

Why is biometric registration used?

Biometric registration helps ensure accurate targeting, accountability, transparency, and efficient delivery of humanitarian assistance.

What organizations can apply?

Humanitarian organizations, NGOs, community-based organizations, and other entities with relevant operational experience may submit expressions of interest.

What protection measures are included?

The program includes gender-sensitive programming, community feedback mechanisms, safeguarding measures, and protection-focused approaches to assistance delivery.

What are the expected outcomes?

Expected outcomes include improved food security, increased access to nutrition support, strengthened beneficiary protection, and enhanced humanitarian assistance delivery in North Darfur.

Conclusion

The WFP GFA North Darfur (Al Fashir) Initiative 2026 represents a critical humanitarian effort to address severe food insecurity and nutrition challenges facing conflict-affected communities in Sudan. By partnering with capable humanitarian organizations, the program aims to deliver life-saving food assistance, strengthen protection mechanisms, support vulnerable women and children, and improve the wellbeing of displaced and at-risk populations. Through inclusive, accountable, and protection-sensitive programming, the initiative contributes to both immediate humanitarian relief and longer-term community resilience.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.