The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved a $19.85 million grant to support a humanitarian and resilience operation in Sudan over the next two years. The grant is intended to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations and ease the impact of the ongoing conflict on communities and infrastructure.
The project has been categorized as “Category 1” on the Bank’s Gender Marker System,indicating that its primary objective is to address gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project is co-financed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and will see the mobilization and training of frontline workers,such as health professionals,water and sanitation experts,and market facilitators. Five health facilities and four emergency centers are to be restored,and water and energy systems in urban and rural areas will be rehabilitated. Emergency food aid,cash grants,and farming inputs,such as fertilizers and seeds,will be delivered,benefiting 1.5 million people,including 265,000 households,with a significant proportion headed by women.
The project is set to be financed through the Bank’s Transition Support Facility (TSF),which provides concessional resources to countries facing fragility and conflict. The ICRC,drawing on its long-standing presence and operational experience in Sudan,will oversee the implementation,which will focus on sustainable solutions and the strengthening of local capacities. The respect for International Humanitarian Law will be advanced to protect civilian infrastructure and assets. The project aims to support long-term development and peace,while addressing immediate needs,and will involve efforts to ensure women’s participation in conflict prevention and crisis management.
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