June 26, 2020(Khartoum) In the first economic conference of its partners, after the overthrow of former President Omar al-Bashir, Sudan gained 1.8 billion dollars in financial aid and pledges to cross the transitional stage facing a storm of challenges, especially the economic crisis.
In a virtual meeting in which representatives of 40 countries and international organizations met, Thursday, at the Sudan Partners Conference, which aims to mobilize international support to help Khartoum achieve economic and social stability and advance efforts for democratic transformation and development in the country, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamduk said Thursday, that his country is
looking for a partnership with the international community based on accountability and exchange.
Hamdouk added in his speech during the conference, which was held via video conference technology: “We are currently going through a transition period, from war, conflict and economic collapse to prosperity, from dictatorship to democratic government, from isolation and marginalization, to association with the world”
The Prime Minister also announced his government’s priorities that were based on the slogan of revolution, freedom, justice, and peace, as he put it, referring to Khartoum signing an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, which addresses radical economic reforms, as he put it.
Funding pledged by the European Commission includes:
€251.75 million in development funding. This includes €93 million to help start Sudan’s Family Support programme, which will be managed by the World Bank. The programme will deliver social assistance and cash transfers to vulnerable households, and contribute to developing an effective and comprehensive Government-owned social protection system, while addressing the immediate economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the most vulnerable. It also includes €65 million to finance four new programmes that will help improve public finance management, women and youth’s economic empowerment, human rights, and the civic space. €93.75 million will further support the political transition and the most vulnerable populations.
€60.5 million in humanitarian funding to help provide for the criticalneeds of the most vulnerable people. The EU has already announced €31.5 million in humanitarian aid for Sudan in 2020. The European Commission is mobilising an additional €29 million to provide further food assistance, especially in the context of the desert locust outbreak in the region, to increase access to health care for vulnerable people, including those affected by the coronavirus and to respond to new emergencies. €20 million of this package is subject to the approval of the budgetary authority.