DAM COMPLEX OF UPPER ATBARA PROJECT SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF PRESENT SITUATION January 2009 Christian Potin Consultant with contribution of Henri Bak for agricultural aspects and Françoise Estreguil for gender aspects (both of them consultants also) (in the frame of SOGREAH’s Impact study for Dam Implementation Unit of Soudan) SUMMARY 1. SOCIO-ECONOMIC APPRAISAL OF THE BASELINE SITUATION AND THE RESETTLEMENTS ISSUES ................................................................................................ 3 1.1. ADMINISTRATIVE SET-UP AND INSTITUTIONS ........................................................................ 3 1.1.1. ADMINISTRATIVE SET-UP OF THE STUDY AREA .......................................................... 3 1.1.2. MISSIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION ............................. 3 1.1.2.1. LOCALITY LEVEL ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 1.1.2.2. ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT LEVEL ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.2.3. LOCAL COMMITTEES LEVEL .......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.3 NATIVE ADMINISTRATION ................................................................................................ 5 1.1.4 POLITICAL PARTIES .......................................................................................................... 6 1.2. POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES ...................................................................... 7 1.2.1. DEFINITIONS AND CONCEPTS ......................................................................................... 7 1.2.2. HISTORICAL BENCHMARKS AND ETHNICITY ................................................................ 8 1.2.3. DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES ............................................................................................ 13 1.2.3.1. POPULATION ESTIMATE ...............................................................................................................................................................................13 1.2.3.2. POPULATION GROWTH .................................................................................................................................................................................15 1.2.3.3. POPULATION STRUCTURE ACCORDING TO AGE AND SEX ...................................................................................................................16 1.2.3.4. MARITAL STATUS ..........................................................................................................................................................................................17 1.2.3.5. LITERACY LEVELS .........................................................................................................................................................................................17 1.2.1.6. HOUSING STANDARDS..................................................................................................................................................................................17 1.3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES ....................................................... 20 1.3.1 ACCESS ROADS AND TRUCKS ...................................................................................... 20 1.3.2 HEALTH ............................................................................................................................. 20 1.3.2.1. HEALTH UNITS AND SERVICES ...................................................................................................................................................................20 1.3.2.2. PREVAILING DISEASES .................................................................................................................................................................................20 1.3.3 EDUCATION ....................................................................................................................... 21 1.3.4 WATER AND ENERGY SUPPLY ...................................................................................... 21 1.4. SOCIO-ANTHROPOLOGICAL STRUCTURE ............................................................................ 22 1.4.1. DOMESTIC UNITS (OUSRAH/HUSH) ............................................................................... 22 1.4.2. KINSHIP SYSTEM ............................................................................................................. 24 1.4.3. DESCENT GROUPS (‘AÏLA) ............................................................................................. 26 1.4.4. TRIBES AND SUB-TRIBES ............................................................................................... 28 1.4.4.1. ARAB TRIBES AND SUB-TRIBES .................................................................................................................................................................28 1.4.4.2. BEJA TRIBES AND SUB-TRIBES ..................................................................................................................................................................28 1.4.4.3. PROBLEMATIC TRIBE IDENTIFICATION OF WEST AFRICAN ETHNIC GROUPS ...................................................................................29 1.4.5 MARRIAGE SYSTEMS ..................................................................................................... 30 1.4.6. RELIGIOUS BROTHERHOODS AND ASSOCIATIONS .................................................. 31 1.4.7. GRASSROOTS REPRESENTATIVE AND LOCAL LEADERS ........................................ 32 1.5. LOCAL COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION CHANNELS ................................................. 33 1.6. GENDER ISSUES ....................................................................................................................... 34 ESIA of DCUAP – Socio-economic report - CPC 1 1.6.1. FAMILY AND WOMAN FUNCTION................................................................................... 34 1.6.1.1. FAMILY DECISION CENTER ..........................................................................................................................................................................34 1.6.1.2. STATUS OF THE WOMAN AND SOCIAL REPRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................34 1.6.1.3. RELIGION AND SUPERSTITION ....................................................................................................................................................................35 1.6.1.4. HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING ................................................................................................................................................................36 1.6.1.5. EDUCATION AND SCHOOL ...........................................................................................................................................................................37 1.6.1.6. HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES ..............................................................................................................................................................................38 1.6.2. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES .................................................................................................. 39 1.6.2.1. WOOD AND WATER .......................................................................................................................................................................................39 1.6.2.2. CROPPING SYSTEM AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY .......................................................................................................................................39 1.6.2.3. HANDICRAFT AND OTHERS ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES ...............................................................................................................................40 1.6.3. ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS ........................................................................................ 40 1.6.3.1. CHANGE AND CONTINUITY, EVOLUTION AND FUTURE ..........................................................................................................................40 1.6.3.2. ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR VIS A VIS TRADITIONAL AND MODERN VALUES AND BELIEF ...............................................................41 1.6.3.3. ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR TOWARD THE FAMILY MODEL .....................................................................................................................41 1.6.3.4. SPECIAL POINT OF VIEW OF THE TEENAGERS ON THEIR FUTURE ......................................................................................................41 1.6.4. CONCLUSION : WOMEN ATTITUDE VIS-À-VIS THE DAM PROJECT .......................... 42 1.7. LAND-USES AND TENURE ....................................................................................................... 43 1.7.1. AGRICULTURAL LAND USE ............................................................................................ 43 1.7.2. LAND TENURE AND LAND RIGHTS IN THE STUDY AREA .......................................... 44 1.8. AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND PRODUCTION .................................................................