Sudan Affirms Desire to Strengthen Cooperation with UN Organizations

Undersecretary of Planning at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning,
Mohamed Bashar, affirmed Sudan’s desire to strengthen cooperation with UN organizations and develop the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Program Document (CPD) for the period 2026-2028. This document serves as a reference for the work of partners from both the Sudanese and UN agencies to achieve sustainable development in the country, direct their support to childhood and development issues in accordance with the country’s priorities, and deliver the necessary services for comprehensive early recovery to war-affected children and vulnerable groups in society.

During his address to the consultative workshop on the UN Children’s Country Program Document (CPD) for the period 2026-2028, organized by the Ministry of Finance at Al-Daman Tower in Port Sudan today, the Undersecretary stated that the priorities agreed upon in the Interim Cooperation Framework document will serve as a reference for the work of UN agencies operating in Sudan. These include the restoration of comprehensive basic services (health, education, water, sanitation, and protection services), economic and social recovery, peace, justice, and strong institutions, the environment, climate change, and disaster resilience.

The Undersecretary pointed out that the biggest challenge is the suspension of funding for the population census, as this impacts the development of plans and programs that help achieve economic growth and improve citizens’ livelihoods.

For his part, Sheldon Yate, UNICEF Representative in Sudan, emphasized the organization’s partnership with the Sudanese government to promote children’s rights and well-being and support Sudan’s efforts to address the challenges posed by the ongoing war on children, basic services, and its economic and societal repercussions on vulnerable groups. He said, “We look forward to the ideas of government partners to help formulate a joint national program that reflects children’s needs and the realities on the ground.” He described the partnership with Sudan as “excellent.”

It is worth noting that the workshop was attended by all relevant ministries and government units.