
About Us
About UNDP in Sudan
Since the outbreak of conflict on April 15, 2023, over 11 million people have been displaced, including 9 million IDPs and over 2 million refugees who have sought refuge in neighboring countries, placing immense pressure on host communities. The conflict has pushed Sudan towards the brink of famine, broken down essential services, and caused soaring food insecurity and economic collapse.
Despite these challenges, UNDP continues to operate in 10 locations with over 130 staff, addressing immediate needs while building long-term resilience and sustainable development. Our main objective in Sudan is to promote community resilience, reduce aid dependency and build a foundation for inclusive recovery. Having been in the country since 1965, UNDP has remained steadfast in its commitment to the people of Sudan, even as the nation confronts one of the world's most dire humanitarian crises.
UNDP adopts an integrated, people-centered, and area-based approach, focusing on localization to strengthen local delivery systems and build the capacity of government institutions and local actors. Through a UN-coordinated strategy, UNDP balances immediate support with long-term development goals, ensuring that interventions are sustainable and responsive to community needs.
Additionally, UNDP continues to deliver in hard-to-reach areas by leveraging local systems, flexible operations, and innovative approaches tailored to conflict zones. Through its extensive network of existing local and international partners, community-based organizations, and local government entities, UNDP supports essential services, strengthens livelihoods, and promotes peacebuilding.
Development Challenges in Sudan

UNDP Sudan puts a strong emphasis on ensuring cost-effectiveness, and our strategy is built on three interconnected pillars: strategic integration, local empowerment, and adaptive management. By aligning its portfolios, UNDP creates synergies that maximize resource utilization and impact.
This integrated approach enables multi-purpose interventions, such as cash-for-work programs that simultaneously address infrastructure needs and provide economic relief.
Local empowerment and localization are at the core of this strategy, with a focus on building the capacity of local institutions and promoting South-South cooperation, which often proves more cost-effective than traditional North-South knowledge transfers.
Adaptive management allows UNDP to continuously optimize its operations in Sudan’s volatile environment through real-time monitoring and evaluation, facilitating rapid course corrections and resource reallocation as needs evolve. By leveraging innovative financing mechanisms and investing in preventative measures like climate-adaptive agriculture and conflict prevention initiatives, UNDP aims to reduce Sudan’s reliance on external assistance, leading to long-term cost savings and sustainable outcomes.
What we do
UNDP current operating offices in Sudan

Our work is intersected by cross-cutting topics, including crisis and emergency response, youth, gender, innovation (via our Accelerator Lab), private sector partnerships, and development/aid-sector coordination, each with dedicated programmes.
For more information on our areas of work, areas of potential collaboration, and our impact, visit Our Focus.
The work of UNDP in Sudan would not be possible without the support of a full spectrum of partners, including the Governments and the affiliated aid/development agencies of Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and others. This is complemented by UNDP Core Funding from generous donor nations, and support from multiple international entities – including the Global Fund, Global Environment Facility and Green Climate Fund – and from direct UN sources like the Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund.
These partners, along with new and emerging donors and international financial institutions, help mobilize the knowledge and resources required to support our ambitious agenda.
Learn more about our funding and delivery, and international partners.
UNDP also assists with the administration, coordination or management of several funds or entities in Sudan, including:
- The UN Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund (PBF)
- United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
- The Darfur Community Peace and Stability Fund (DCPSF)
- The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund)
- Support services for a range of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes
Across our work, UNDP utilizes a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach, in unison with sister UN agencies, the private sector, the “Friends of Sudan” group, and national and international entities.
Our Achievements
Since the conflict out break on April 15th 2023, our interventions improved the lives of more than 6.3 million Sudanese citizens, refugees, and migrants all across Sudan.
Highlights from 2024 include:
- 2.5 million people have improved primary health care access including antimalarial, HIV and TB treatment services in which IDPs, returnees, refugees and other mobile populations were provided with TB testing.
- 150 metric tons of certified seeds distribution to strengthen agricultural resilience and enhance food security in targeted communities.
- 150,000 Sudanese have been trained in Social Cohesion and Conflict Resolution.
- Over 200,000 temporary jobs created in Sudan through cash-for-work initiative, providing vital income support for vulnerable communities.
- UNDP water initiatives brings 16 million liters of clean water daily, revolutionizing life in priority communities.
Over 600,000 Sudanese now have improved access to clean sustainable energy through solar power.