The African Development Bank Group has approved a $19.85 million grant to support emergency humanitarian operations in Sudan, with a strong focus on improving women’s livelihoods and mitigating the impact of the ongoing conflict on communities and critical infrastructure.
This was disclosed in a press statement by Christin Roby, Principal Regional Communication Officer for East Africa.
Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities
The initiative, Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan, is designed to provide gender-responsive relief to those most affected by the crisis. Since April 2023, armed conflict has devastated critical infrastructure, triggering a humanitarian emergency that has disproportionately impacted women and children.
Key Interventions for Crisis Response
According to the statement, the project will mobilize and train frontline workers, including health professionals, midwives, water and sanitation specialists, and market facilitators. Additionally, it will restore five health facilities and four emergency centers in conflict zones while constructing or rehabilitating 10 water and energy systems in urban and rural areas.
The financial assistance from the Bank will also ensure the distribution of emergency food aid, including essential staples such as lentils, sorghum, tea leaves, and sugar. An estimated 60,000 people will receive farming inputs like fertilizers and seeds this year alone. Furthermore, the project will distribute cash grants to support the livelihoods of 125,000 individuals, with a particular focus on women, their dependents, and survivors of gender-based violence.
Impact on Sudanese Communities
The project is expected to benefit approximately 1.5 million Sudanese, covering 265,000 households, with an estimated 65 percent of them being female-headed. The Bank has categorized the initiative as “Category 1” on its Gender Marker System, meaning that gender equality and women’s empowerment are at the core of the project’s objectives.
“Peace, security, and stability are urgently needed for Sudanese communities to reach their full potential,” stated Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human, and Social Development at the African Development Bank.
“The Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project will help restore social services and economic opportunities for some of the country’s most vulnerable communities. The Bank financing will also strategically promote inclusive and resilient economic activities,” she added.
Implementation Through ICRC and a Long-Term Development Approach
The project is financed through the Bank’s Transition Support Facility, established in 2008 to provide additional concessional resources to countries experiencing fragility and conflict.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will oversee the implementation of the project, leveraging its longstanding operational experience in Sudan. The ICRC will deploy experts in monitoring and evaluation, environmental safeguards, gender, procurement, and communications.
This intervention goes beyond short-term relief efforts by integrating long-term resilience and development strategies. The project employs a humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach, ensuring that immediate relief efforts contribute to sustainable development and lasting stability. The strategy prioritizes food security, livelihood support, and early recovery measures for affected communities and displaced populations.
Addressing Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis
Currently, an estimated eight million Sudanese have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict, with 1.6 million—primarily women and children—fleeing to neighboring countries. Stabilizing Sudan will require coordinated humanitarian assistance, policy dialogue, and initiatives to ensure women’s active participation in crisis management.
The African Development Bank’s initiative, implemented in collaboration with the ICRC, marks a significant step toward alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Sudan while laying the foundation for long-term recovery and peace.
For media inquiries, contact: Christin Roby, Principal Regional Communication Officer for East Africa | Email: media@afdb.org
