Abidjan – The African Development Bank Group (AFDB) has approved a two-year grant of $19.85 million to support humanitarian and resilience activities in Sudan.
The grants focus strongly on improving livelihoods for vulnerable groups and mitigating the impact of ongoing conflict on communities and infrastructure.
In the short term, the crisis response for women and affected communities in the Sudan Project, jointly acquired by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), will train and mobilize frontline workers, including health professionals, water and sanitation experts and market filitators.
The project will also restore up to five health facilities and four emergency centers in the conflict zone, rehabilitating water and energy systems in urban and rural areas.
Funding will also promote emergency food aid such as lentils and sorghum, as well as supply of other staple foods such as tea leaves and sugar.
The AFDB said at least 60,000 people will receive agricultural inputs such as fertilizer and seeds only this year.
Cash grants to support livelihoods focused on women and their dependents, as well as survivors of gender-based violence will also be provided, the bank said.
Overall, the project benefits 1.5 million Sudanese people, or 265,000 households, of which the majority is led by women.
The project also benefits internally evacuated (IDP) and hosting communities.
The bank classifies the crisis response of women and affected communities in the Sudan Project as “category 1” in the gender marker system, indicating that the project's main objectives directly address gender equality and female empowerment.
“Peace, security and stability are urgently needed for Sudan's community to reach its full potential,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President of Agriculture, Human and Social Development at AFDB.
“The crisis response to women and affected communities in the Sudan Project will help restore social services and economic opportunities to some of the country's most vulnerable communities.
“Bank funding strategically promotes comprehensive and resilient economic activity and deliberately contributes to peacebuilding.”
Dr. Dunford said the AFDB's Transition Support Facility (TSF) is funding the project's bank share.
Introduced in 2008, the facility provides additional concession resources to countries facing vulnerability and conflict situations.
The Bank Crisis Response Project, implemented in collaboration with ICRC, will go beyond short-term humanitarian interventions and invest in long-term resilience and sustainable development, focusing on women and affected communities.
It employs a Nexus approach of humanitarian development that combines urgent humanitarian relief with efforts to lay the foundation for long-term development and peace.
While addressing conflicts with rapid responses focused on food security and other livelihood support, the project's focus relies on early recovery of affected communities and displaced people.
The International Committee of the Red Cross will work through existing staffing and infrastructure based on its deep operational experience and years of existence in Sudan.
The project focuses on expanding sustainable solutions, including strengthening the capabilities of the Sudan Red Crescent Association.
As part of its mission, the ICRC will also advance respect for international humanitarian law, which forms the basis for humanitarian responses in conflict-affected regions, thereby protecting civilian infrastructure and assets.
To date, an estimated 11 million Sudanese have been displaced internally, forcing another 3.8 million (mostly women and children) to flee to neighboring countries.
Supporting Sudan's stabilization requires coordinated joint efforts combined with immediate relief, laying the foundation for comprehensive long-term development and lasting stability.
Policy dialogue is key to ensuring women's participation in conflict prevention and crisis management.
