Sida's work in Sudan
The civil war that began in 2023 has forced millions of people to flee their homes and created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Sudan is the country that receives the most humanitarian aid from Sida. This aid helps to build health systems, promotes peace, and provides people with protection, food security and clean water.
Sida’s support in Sudan 2025
Important thematic areas in Sudan
Why development cooperation in Sudan?
Full-scale civil war
The civil war that began in 2023 has exacerbated an already serious political, economic and humanitarian crisis. People are being forcibly displaced from their homes and millions are in need of humanitarian aid: shelter, water and medical care.
Famine
The war has left large parts of the country in ruins. As a result, millions of people are suffering from hunger, starvation and malnutrition. Social systems and infrastructure have collapsed, and there is a shortage of shelter, food and clean water.
Gender-based violence
Sudan faces major challenges in terms of gender equality. Child marriage, female genital mutilation and sexual and gender-based violence are widespread. The conflict, with many people displaced, has led to a sharp increase in conflict-related sexual violence, such as rape. Women and girls who have been displaced are more vulnerable and face an increased risk of sexual violence. Violence is used as a weapon of war to humiliate, control and divide communities.
Examples of what Sida has contributed to
Support for households with insecure access to food
Through support channelled via Welthungerhilfe, Sida has helped to strengthen food security in areas affected by conflict and crisis.
Securing food supplies in rural areas
Sudanese farmers receive support for sustainable agriculture and secure food supplies through measures such as training.
Improved access to clean water
Sida’s support for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is increasing access to clean water and sanitation (toilets, sewerage and waste management). This has improved access to clean drinking water and supported the restoration and maintenance of water sources.
Sida's work in Sudan
In Sudan, Sida carries out development cooperation that contributes to the country’s long-term development. We also provide extensive humanitarian aid to save lives and alleviate suffering in emergency situations.
Here are some examples of the areas and organisations that Sida supports.
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 2026.
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.
In the humanitarian crisis analysis, you can read about the crisis and see which partner organisations are working there in 2026.
In Sudan, Sweden is helping, amongst other things, to ensure that more women and young people are involved in the peace processes. Here is an example of a project supported by Sida:
Support for UN Women has led to progress in strengthening the role of Sudanese women in peace processes. Key initiatives and international events have helped over 350 women from across Sudan to shape a peace agenda and enabled female peacebuilders to receive further training.
This has helped to promote women’s leadership and lay the foundations for a more inclusive and sustainable peace in Sudan. Continued support from Sida is vital to ensure that these achievements are sustained and that women’s perspectives are prioritised in peace processes.
Sida helps to promote human rights and strengthen civil society in Sudan. Here are some examples of projects supported by Sida:
Through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Sida supports vulnerable children in war-torn Sudan and ensures that they are protected against the slave trade, torture, sexual abuse and other forms of serious violence. Children are unable to attend school, and UNICEF predicts that one of the greatest learning crises will arise as at least one generation will miss out on a normal school education.
That is why UNICEF runs ‘Safe Learning Spaces’, where children are given the opportunity to access basic education, psychosocial support, health services and more. UNICEF also continues its vital work to change social norms surrounding gender-based violence and documents serious violations against children.
UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are working together to combat female genital mutilation and prevent child marriage. Since 2020, around 100 local support networks have been set up to raise awareness of female genital mutilation.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) improves maternity care and helps to reduce the number of preventable maternal deaths, as well as reducing 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’ offering psychosocial support, healthcare 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 and child marriage, and has established a network for protection against female genital mutilation.
Support for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sudan has enabled the UN to continue its work of monitoring and reporting on serious violations of, and breaches of, international humanitarian law and human rights.
The information gathered is crucial for future accountability. This is important to ensure that survivors and victims can obtain redress and to facilitate future legal proceedings at the international level, including in international courts.
The outbreak of war has devastated the free and independent media in Sudan and forced journalists into exile. This has left the field open to hate propaganda, misinformation and disinformation, which are fuelling the conflict. Through Sida’s support for Free Press Unlimited, the Sudan Media Forum and Radio Dabanga in Sudan, independent and verified news can reach millions of Sudanese people.
Sida supports projects that contribute to food security. Here is an example of a project that Sida supports:
Support provided through the organisation Mercy Corps has helped to improve food security for smallholder farming households by giving them better and more equitable access to markets, as well as increasing agricultural production.
Updated: August 12, 2026