Sida's work in Sudan
On 15 April 2023, open battles broke out between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in several parts of Sudan. The conflict has seriously exacerbated the already difficult humanitarian situation and Sida is providing extensive humanitarian support to the population in Sudan.
Important thematic areas in Sudan
Why development cooperation in Sudan?
Full-scale civil war
Since April 2023, a full-scale civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been ongoing in Sudan. The war exacerbates an already serious political, economic and humanitarian crisis. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and millions of people have been displaced from their homes. An estimated 6.5 million children are in need of protection and around 5 million children are displaced.
Famine
The war that broke out in April 2023 has left large parts of the country in ruins. It has led to food shortages, collapsed social systems and infrastructure, lack of clean water and malnutrition. At the beginning of 2024, an estimated 24.7 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN estimates that 25 million people are in urgent need of food, with children particularly affected. At the same time, the fighting parties are preventing humanitarian support from reaching the population. In August 2024, the Zamzam camp in North Darfur was confirmed to be in a state of famine.
Gender-based violence
Sudan has major challenges and gaps in gender equality. Child marriages are common, as are sexual and gender-based violence and genital mutilation. The war has forced many people to flee within the country, increasing the risks and vulnerability of women and girls and contributing to a drastic increase in violence against women across the country, abduction, child marriage, and female genital mutilation.
Examples of what Sida has contributed to
Support to households with food insecurity
Through the World Bank’s fund for the World Food Programme (WFP), Sweden, through Sida, has contributed to strengthening the food security of 2.6 million poor households in the long vulnerable and conflict-affected states of Darfur and Kordofan. These households, 60 per cent of which were headed by women, received cash assistance and food.
Food security in rural areas
Sudanese farmers receive support to achieve sustainable agricultural productivity and food security through a World Food Programme (WFP) project. Since 2020, more than 62 000 farmers have benefited from the project. From November 2023 to April 2024, 50 000 farmers were reached with training and materials to ensure post-harvest grain handling and storage.
Improved access to clean water
Sida’s support to UNICEF increases access to clean water and sanitation (toilets, sanitation and waste management). This has included providing 5.2 million children and their families with access to safe drinking water, restoring 200 water sources and providing operation and maintenance support (including chlorination) to over 2 700 water sources.
Sida's work in Sudan
In Sudan, Sida implements development cooperation to contribute to long-term development of the country. We also provide humanitarian support to save lives and alleviate suffering in emergency situations.
Millions of Sudanese are in need of humanitarian support in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Sida’s humanitarian support provides people with access to shelter, clean water, food and healthcare. Sudan is one of the countries receiving the most humanitarian support in 2025.
Sida works with international humanitarian and civil society organisations and prioritises the people most in need of support.
Sida’s humanitarian support in Sudan saves lives and alleviates suffering.
- Sudan Humanitarian Fund on the UN’s website
- UNICEF’s website
- International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC’s website
- Action Against Hunger’s website
- Danish Refugee Council DRC’s website
- Norwegian Refugee Council NRC’s website
- International Rescue Committee IRC’s website
- Islamic Relief’s website
- World Food Programme’s website
- Première Urgence Internationale PUI’s website
Learn more about Sida’s analysis of the humanitarian crisis, Sida’s support and how much money is distributed to each organisation in Sida’s crisis analysis.
The war that broke out in April 2023 has left much of the country in ruins. Violence has increased across the country. There is no sign of a longer ceasefire or a sustainable peace agreement in the near future. Women and young people are often hit the hardest, while their opportunities to participate in peace and reconciliation processes are limited. In Sudan, Sweden is helping to involve more women and young people in the peace processes. Here is an example of projects that Sida supports:
Support to UN Women has led to progress in strengthening the role of Sudanese women in peace processes. Key initiatives and international events, such as African Women at the Peace Table and the Open Session of the African Union Peace and Security Council, have helped over 350 women from across Sudan to have an opportunity to shape a peace agenda. This has helped to elevate women’s leadership and lay the foundation for a more inclusive and sustainable peace in Sudan. Continued support from Sida is crucial to ensure that these achievements are sustained and that women’s perspectives are prioritised in peace processes.
Since the war broke out, human rights violations have escalated sharply, affecting the civilian population. The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan, established by the UN Human Rights Council, reported in 2024 systematic and widespread sexual violence including gang rape, arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, looting and recruitment of child soldiers. Sida contributes to increasing human rights and strengthening civil society in Sudan. Here are some examples of projects that Sida supports:
Through UNICEF, Sida supports vulnerable children in war-torn Sudan and ensures that they are protected from slavery, torture, sexual abuse and other serious violence. UNICEF estimates that up to 6.5 million children are in need of protection and 5 million children are displaced. Children lack opportunities to go to school and UNICEF predicts that one of the biggest learning crises will occur when at least one generation will miss out on regular schooling. Therefore, UNICEF runs ‘Safe learning spaces’ where children have the opportunity to participate in basic education, psychosocial support, health services, etc. UNICEF also continues to pursue the important work of changing social norms around gender-based violence, and documents gross violations against children.
Plan International, UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are working together to combat female genital mutilation (FGM) and prevent child marriage. Since 2020, around 100 local protection networks have been established to raise awareness of FGM.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) improves obstetric care and helps reduce preventable maternal deaths, gender-based violence and harmful practices. UNFPA Sudan deploys midwives and mobile clinics to assist women and girls, and runs ‘Women and Girls Safe Spaces’ with psychosocial support, health referrals and information sessions on sexual and gender-based violence. UNFPA regularly conducts awareness-raising sessions and community dialogues on sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, including female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage, and has established a network for protection against FGM.
Support to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sudan has enabled the UN to continue its work in 2024 to monitor and report on violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The information collected is crucial for future accountability for violations of international law committed during the war. It is important for victims to receive restitution and to enable future international legal proceedings, including in international courts.
The civil war in Sudan is deepening the humanitarian crisis and worsening access to food for people in several urban and rural areas. Many people also lack access to clean water for their own consumption, for agricultural irrigation and for livestock. Recent heavy rains and floods have further contributed to the poor living and sanitary conditions in refugee camps in the country, raising concerns about potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and dengue fever. The war jeopardises the production of staple crops and food in general, as essential value chains and markets are not functioning.
Sida supports projects that contribute to increased food security and livelihoods. Here is an example of projects that Sida supports:
Support through the Mercy Corps organisation has contributed to improving the food security of smallholder farming households, through better and more equitable access to markets and increased agricultural production. It has improved the food security of 35 671 smallholder farming households and contributed to the establishment of 71 cooperatives.
The Swedish government’s strategy for development cooperation in Sudan is extended until 31 October 2025, or until the government decides on a new strategy.
Strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation with Sudan 2018—2022 at the Swedish government website
Sudan is one of the countries receiving the most humanitarian support in 2025. Sida’s humanitarian support to Sudan is based on an annual crisis analysis and the support is channelled to the humanitarian organisations in the country that are best able to reach those most in need.
Updated: July 1, 2025