United Nations in Sudan - Annual Report 2022

The United Nations’ support for national development priorities is outlined in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The latest UNDAF (2018- 2022) was extended until the end of December 2023. At the start of 2022, in order to operationalize the UNDAF within the current context, outline UN priorities and guide planning until the end of 2023, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Sudan drafted the UN Common Approach, which is organized around three pillars (lifesaving and sustaining basic services, community stabilization and resilience; protection of civilians, human rights, and rule of law; and peace, conflict prevention, and democratic transition).

Despite the socio-political challenges in Sudan, several key achievements were realized through UN programmes and interventions, including the provision of almost 12 million COVID-19 vaccines; the provision of nutritional assistance for over nine million people; access to quality education provided to five million children; the provision of basic water service for nearly one million people; over 500,000 conflict-affected communities engaged in livelihood and economic recovery activities; over 256,800 people received explosive ordnance risk education; more than one million meters2 of area cleared of landmines and explosive remnants of war; the development a Crisis Risk Dashboard; the launching of the Coalition for Peace, Justice and Tolerance in Darfur; and the development of a draft transitional constitution.

The UN has been supporting the Sudanese democratic transition through the efforts of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). Throughout 2022, the UNCT in Sudan supported Sudanese-led and -owned political consultations and talks, developed a road map for the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement (JPA), and joined the Trilateral Mechanism with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to support the development of an agreed upon framework for the next phase of the political process.

The military leadership and a broad range of civilian actors signed the Political Framework Agreement in December 2022 to lay the ground for the formation of a new civilian-led transitional government. As part of that process, five workshops were implemented to ensure a common understanding among stakeholders and facilitate the signing of the final agreement. This unfortunately was not signed. On 15 April 2023, fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

Sudan is confronting a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, jeopardizing the lives of the already vulnerable and threatening the lives of millions of children. Insecurity and looting of humanitarian assets and supplies have challenged the humanitarian response. In the face of these challenges, the UN in Sudan remains committed to supporting political negotiations to end the conflict, while continuing and expanding its lifesaving work, and the alleviation of human suffering.