Key facts: Sudan

Last updated: October 2008

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DFID: Working to reduce poverty in Sudan

Making aid effective | Governance | Humanitarian aid | Millennium Development Goals

In the past five years, the UK has provided US$667 million (£334 million) in aid to Sudan, out of a total of US$2.2 billion (£1.07 billion) from the international community. In 2008-09, we plan to give about US$220 million (£110 million).

DFID Sudan is currently developing a country plan for Sudan for 2008–13.

Making aid effective

International non-governmental organisations (INGOs) are essential partners in Sudan, particularly in the humanitarian response in Darfur and for delivering basic services in the south.

Harmonisation between donors is a high priority for DFID in Sudan. The majority of UK support is delivered through pooled funding. Two multi-donor trust funds, administered by the World Bank, have been established to meet priority needs - one to address national issues and the other for south Sudan. The government of Sudan provides US$2 for every US$1 contributed by donors.

Most UK humanitarian funding is spent through the multi-donor Common Humanitarian Fund, run by the UN to deal with the most urgent needs. We have also led on the creation of pooled funds to address community-level peace-building in Darfur and to provide basic services in the south.

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Governance

Poor governance is a cause of poverty, and peace is a precondition for good governance. Through the Sudan Conflict Prevention Pool strategy, we work with partners across the British government to support the implementation of the formal peace agreements, broader peace-building, security-sector reform and the promotion of conflict-sensitive recovery and development. The UK is putting pressure on all parties to stop the fighting in Darfur and working to establish effective peacekeeping.

DFID is working to make the governments of Sudan and Southern Sudan more capable, accountable and responsive by:

• helping to strengthen the police and judiciary to promote the rule of law in the north and south
• contributing to the provision of technical assistance to local government so that it can better tackle poverty and deliver services
• supporting the preparations for the elections, likely to take place in late 2009, which are mandated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the civil war in southern Sudan in January 2005. These preparations include the strengthening of political parties.
• helping to increase parliamentary oversight of the budget and other governmental decisions
• trying to ensure that all sectors of Sudanese society are included in the preparation of the National Strategic Plan and the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

The UK also supports key commissions, such as the National Civil Service Commission and the National Judiciary Commission, set up to help implement the CPA. The UK recognises the critical importance of the CPA, which provides a framework for power- and wealth-sharing, as well as new arrangements for the delivery of security. Successful CPA implementation will make the government more responsive to the needs of different regions.

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Humanitarian aid

In Darfur, UN agencies and INGOs are providing protection, emergency shelter, food, health care and water to 4.5 million conflict-affected people. However, the increasing lack of security is preventing these humanitarian agencies from operating effectively, leaving hundreds of thousands without access to aid.

In other parts of Sudan, the UK continues to meet humanitarian needs as well as building up the county’s longer-term ability to cope as the focus moves towards supporting its recovery.

In southern Sudan, DFID is ensuring that high-quality basic services continue to be provided to the local population. We’re currently providing money through the Basic Services Fund, which is designed to benefit more than 900,000 people, providing such essential services as training 300 teachers and 270 health-sector staff.

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Progress towards Millennium Development Goals

MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Between 2001 and 2003, the UN estimates that 27% of the population were undernourished. In 2006, Sudan’s own household health survey reported that more than 17% of people weren’t meeting their daily food needs.

MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education
In 2005, only 46.9% of children completed primary school education.

MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Only 18% of the seats in the national parliament are held by women. However, the difference in the proportion of girls to boys attending primary and secondary schools is much smaller - respectively, 0.87:1.00 and 0.96:1.00 (2006).

MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
At least one child in every 10 dies before the age of 5.

MDG 5: Improve maternal health
At least one woman in every 100 who has given birth, or is about to, dies.

MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
According to UNAIDS, Sudan’s epidemic is the most extensive in the Middle East and north Africa, with adult HIV prevalence estimated at 1.4% (2007). Unprotected heterosexual intercourse is the main factor.

MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
In 2006, 70% of the population had clean drinking water available, but only 35% had access to adequate sanitation.

MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development
One of the elements of this MDG is access to communication technology. The percentage of people in Sudan with a mobile phone subscription has increased from 0.07% in 2000 to 11.59% in 2006.

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