Summary of Needs
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan in April 2023, damaged telecommunications have disrupted the lives of millions of people and significantly hindered aid efforts. The ETC Cluster seeks to urgently restore communications in the most affected regions, including Khartoum, Darfur, and Kordofan, enabling faster and more coordinated delivery of humanitarian aid. Furthermore, the plan emphasises the importance of engaging local communities to ensure long-term sustainability and exit strategy after the ETC is de-activated.
The ETC’s planned response will require approximately $14 million, including funding for staff salaries, equipment, and the establishment of Security Operations Centres (SOCs). Immediate funding is critical to support life-saving efforts.
Response Strategy
ETC will implement a comprehensive response to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan across four key pillars - coordination and information management; security communications; data connectivity; and community services. The cluster will facilitate effective humanitarian aid delivery through enhanced coordination mechanisms and robust information management systems – convening regular coordination meetings with relevant stakeholders and developing a range of information management products to track progress, identify gaps, and make data-driven decisions.
ETC will deploy and maintain critical security communications infrastructure, including VHF/HF radios and satellite phones, supported by SOC staff. Data connectivity services will be established at key operational sites, complemented by helpdesk support and technical training. Through its Services for Communities initiative, the cluster will also work to establish communication platforms for affected populations, implement feedback mechanisms, and build local capacity for long-term sustainability. ETC will maintain flexibility to adapt to changing security conditions, while emphasizing community involvement and sustainable solutions throughout its operations.
Targeting and Prioritization
The ETC Cluster will prioritize support for Khartoum, Darfur, and Kordofan where damaged infrastructure and communication failures have severely hindered humanitarian efforts. Restoring services in these regions is critical to ensuring effective aid delivery. Prioritization will be coordinated through inter-agency mechanisms such as the ICCG and HCT, using real-time data to guide decisions. The ETC Cluster will remain flexible to adapt its approach as conditions evolve.
Cost of Response
The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster requires $13.89 million to implement its telecommunications restoration and sustainability plan across Sudan. This funding will cover key expenses, including the procurement of VHF and HF radios, satellite phones, and data connectivity equipment, along with the installation and deployment of communications infrastructure in conflict-affected areas such as Khartoum, Darfur, and Kordofan. Additionally, the budget will support staffing and salaries, recurring costs, contractual services, and indirect support expenses.
The $13.89 million budget is deemed essential to restore telecommunications infrastructure in conflict-affected areas of Sudan, where services have been devastated. This funding will provide critical connectivity to the humanitarian community’s collective efforts to provide support to over 10 million people, including through facilitating cash-based transfers by enabling retailer networks to access communication services for digital transactions. To ensure long-term sustainability, local staff will be trained to manage these systems once ETC’s activation period ends. Immediate funding is crucial to avoid delays in rebuilding these vital networks. To best facilitate effective use of resources and handling of procurements, it will be important for available funding to be received in larger, regular tranches. This will allow ETC to make bulk purchase orders when needed and better manage long lead times resulting from manufacturing, logistical, and bureaucratic processes.