$19.85 Million Grant from the African Development Bank to Sudan
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $19.85 million grant over two years to support humanitarian efforts and enhance resilience in Sudan, focusing on improving the livelihoods of vulnerable groups and mitigating the impact of ongoing conflict on communities and infrastructure.
According to a press release issued by the African Development Bank on Friday, the project titled “Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan”, which is co-financed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), will train and mobilize frontline workers such as health professionals, water and sanitation specialists, and market facilitators.
The project will also rehabilitate up to five health facilities and four emergency centers in conflict-affected areas, in addition to repairing water and energy systems in both urban and rural areas.
The funding will also support the delivery of emergency food assistance, such as lentils and sorghum, along with other essential items like tea leaves and sugar. Approximately 60,000 people are expected to receive agricultural inputs this year, such as fertilizers and seeds. Cash grants will also be provided to support livelihoods, with a focus on female-headed households and survivors of gender-based violence.
The project is expected to benefit around 1.5 million Sudanese, equivalent to 265,000 households, most of which are led by women. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities will also benefit.
The Bank has classified the project under its Gender Marker System Category 1, indicating that the project’s primary objective is to address gender equality issues and empower women.
Dr. Beth Dunford, the Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, said:
“Peace, security, and stability are urgently needed for Sudanese communities to realize their full potential.”
She added:
“The Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project will help restore social services and economic opportunities for some of the most vulnerable communities in the country. The Bank’s financing will strategically support inclusive and sustainable economic activities, deliberately contributing to peacebuilding efforts.”
The Bank’s share of the project is financed through the Transition Support Facility, a mechanism launched in 2008 to provide additional concessional resources to countries facing fragility and conflict.
Implemented in collaboration with the ICRC, the Bank’s crisis response goes beyond short-term humanitarian interventions to invest in long-term resilience and sustainable development, with a focus on women and affected communities. The project adopts a Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus approach, combining urgent relief with long-term development and peacebuilding efforts. While responding to the conflict through rapid interventions focused on food security and livelihoods support, the project maintains a strong emphasis on early recovery for affected communities and displaced populations.
