Meeting more than medical needs: MSF’s group cash transfer programme in South Darfur

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is often perceived solely as an emergency medical organisation. While this is true in the majority of places where the organization works, MSF is also a humanitarian organisation deeply concerned with the well-being of people affected by crises—whether man-made or natural.

In South Darfur, where the presence of government programmes, UN organisations and their agencies, and international INGOs is very limited, MSF finds itself operating in a context where needs extend far beyond access to medical care. Communities here are not only struggling with the collapse of healthcare services but also with a severe lack of essential resources such as food and clean water. And even if food is available, it is often expensive and not affordable to the average family.

Faced with these pressing challenges, MSF launched a three-month initiative in South Darfur: the Group Cash Transfer (GCT) Programme. And although this programme is common among other INGOs; it is considered unconventional for MSF due to its operational history

Group Cash Transfer (GCT) is a humanitarian approach that helps communities affected by crises by giving them direct cash grants. Instead of being restricted, these funds allow local groups to decide how best to use them, whether to support vulnerable members or improve community-wide well-being. This flexibility empowers communities to take charge of their own response and recovery efforts.

By funding programmes that local groups are already running to help people in their communities, GCTs ensure that assistance reaches those most in need. This approach also acknowledges that communities themselves in most cases are best placed to determine their most urgent priorities.

In South Darfur, the selection process for the program was thorough and inclusive, ensuring that a wide range of local groups could participate. It targeted diverse entities, including community committees, women's groups, volunteer-led initiatives, and grassroots organisations. Additionally, more established local and national NGOs were also considered, creating a balanced mix of participants. This approach aimed to empower different segments of the community, fostering collaboration and ensuring that support reached those who needed it most.

Each selected group received up to $15,000 to implement projects addressing critical needs. Among the 15 groups chosen:

• - Seven focused on school feeding programs, with some supporting multiple schools.
• - Three provided assistance to volunteer-run health posts.
• - Two established community kitchens to support internally displaced persons (IDPs).

One example is the Baladna Organization for Social Development, a local group that collaborated with MSF to provide meals in primary schools. Their initiative aimed to feed over 450 students and 40 teachers and volunteers for three months.

“After the war broke out in April 2023, many schools closed due to the conflict. When they reopened, one of the biggest challenges was the lack of food, which affected attendance. Families struggled to send their children to school for a full day without a meal. Recognising this, we partnered with local organisations to provide school meals, ensuring children could focus on their education.” – Lisa Searle, MSF Project Coordinator in South Darfur

“This cash transfer programmes contributed in stabilising the school in terms of attendance and feeding school children to give them the nutrition they need.” Says Mohammed Hashem, Director of Baladna Organization for Social Development.

This programme underscores the vast humanitarian needs in Sudan—particularly in Darfur—where the ongoing conflict has devastated communities. The United Nations has described the crisis as one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in modern history.

While MSF continues to respond to urgent medical and humanitarian needs whenever possible, the scale of suffering in Sudan far exceeds its capacity. UN agencies and international NGOs must intensify their efforts to alleviate the immense hardship faced by the Sudanese people, by increasing direct funding to local NGOs already working on the ground, and by shifting decision-making power to these organisations and grassroots initiatives that are best placed to identify and address urgent needs. This comes at a time when severe funding cuts from major international donors have left local responders scrambling for resources, while the United Nations’ ability to scale up its response remains hindered by entrenched political obstacles that continue to delay or restrict the delivery of lifesaving aid across Darfur.