AfDB Approves $62M Grant to Restore Critical Services in Conflict-Affected Sudan

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $62.13 million emergency grant aimed at restoring essential public services in Sudan, a country currently grappling with one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises following the 2023 civil conflict.

The grant will fund the Sudan Integrated Social Sector Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project (SISSIRP), a two-year initiative (2025–2027) targeting four heavily affected states: Aj Jazira, River Nile, Sennar, and White Nile. The project seeks to rehabilitate key education, health, and water services that have been decimated by the conflict.

Approved on July 11, 2025, the funding includes $44.57 million from the Bank’s Transition Support Facility and $17.56 million from the African Development Fund, its concessional financing arm for low-income nations.

“This project is a crucial step towards rebuilding lives and livelihoods,” said Mary Monyau, AfDB Country Manager for Sudan. “By restoring access to clean water, healthcare, and essential infrastructure, we are not only addressing immediate humanitarian needs but also laying the foundation for long-term resilience and development.”

Sudan’s humanitarian situation is dire, with over 30.6 million people in need of urgent assistance, including 11.5 million internally displaced individuals—54% of whom are women. The widespread destruction of infrastructure has deepened poverty, widened inequality, and restricted access to basic services.

The SISSIRP project is structured around three main components:

• Strengthening Social Infrastructure and Systems: Rehabilitating WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), health, and education facilities.
• Capacity Development and Community Engagement: Building the ability of individuals and institutions to deliver and sustain services.
• Governance and Implementation Support: Ensuring transparency, accountability, and equitable access during project execution.

The initiative supports the AfDB’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033), aligns with its “High 5” goal of improving quality of life, and promotes access to basic water services, health coverage, and youth inclusion in education and employment.