In Sudan, nearly $100 million for health and agriculture

The portfolio presented during the meeting includes 19 million units of account for health, 19 million for water, 6 million for education, and 29 million for other services, in addition to agricultural funding. The Bank’s unit of account is linked to the Special Drawing Rights of the International Monetary Fund.

The statement did not specify what portion of this funding represents new commitments. The Bank had already approved an $87 million grant in April for the BOOST project, which focuses on food security and rural livelihoods, and launched this program in collaboration with the World Food Programme in June.

This agricultural project aims to assist over 230,000 households and support the production of nearly one million tons of cereals and legumes. The Bank indicated in May that its active portfolio in Sudan included 17 projects valued at a total of $833 million in agriculture, health, water, sanitation, and social infrastructure.

The Khartoum meeting also addressed the resumption of international funding flows and the monitoring of grants and reconstruction projects, as the war that erupted in April 2023 has severely impacted the country’s economy and public services.

Additionally, the Sudanese government presented a portfolio of electricity and energy projects worth over $500 million. The Bank’s country representative, David Muthusi Mutuku, stated that these projects still need to be assessed based on their level of preparedness and feasibility studies.

Both parties also agreed to work towards the release of an $18 million grant that has been stalled, originally intended for the International Fund for Agricultural Development, by establishing a joint technical committee and requesting a specialized evaluation mission.