U.S. Agency for International Development
Washington, D.C.
OVERVIEW
On July 9, 2011, what was the largest country in Africa became two nations: The Republic of Sudan, and the newly independent Republic of South Sudan. Even after southern independence, Sudan still remains one of the largest countries in Africa, facing highly complex development challenges and an uncertain future, but still key to the stability of both the nascent South Sudan, and the region as a whole.
USAID remains committed to playing a role in enhancing the viability and stability of Sudan as the country embarks on a new era. Conflict mitigation will be an integral component of USAID's efforts, as progress in this area remains a chief U.S. foreign policy priority in Sudan, particularly in Darfur and the "Three Areas" of Abyei, Blue Nile, and Southern Kordofan. USAID will continue to build on the established coordination between diplomacy and development efforts in Sudan to address outstanding provisions of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended 22 years of North-South civil war, and will continue support for democratic development in Sudan, as well as openings for a transition from emergency assistance to development assistance, where conditions allow.
PROGRAMS
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
USAID is providing life-saving assistance to meet immediate humanitarian needs in Southern Kordofan, Darfur, and other areas of Sudan while supporting longer-term recovery programs and Sudan's transition to peace and security. USAID has provided vital assistance to distribute emergency food aid and relief supplies and implement emergency and early recovery programs in a variety of sectors, including health; nutrition; water, sanitation, and hygiene; food security and agriculture; shelter and settlements; economic recovery and market systems; protection; and coordination.
FOOD AID
USAID has consistently been the world's largest donor of food assistance to Sudan. Since 2004, those affected by conflict in Darfur have comprised the majority of food aid beneficiaries in Sudan. In 2011, USAID responded quickly to assist tens of thousands of Sudanese displaced by conflict in Abyei and Southern Kordofan, in coordination with the international humanitarian community, including the United Nations.
PEACE AND SECURITY
USAID works to strengthen Sudanese confidence and capacity to address the causes and consequences of political conflict, violence, and instability. USAID also supports community consensus-building through key reconciliation processes to mitigate potentially catalytic conflicts. In Darfur, USAID provides civil society and community organizations with early recovery assistance for peace-building activities and provides basic services.
GOVERNING JUSTLY AND DEMOCRATICALLY
In Sudan, USAID continues to work with civil society and political parties to support key CPA political processes in the Three Areas. Activities promote citizen participation in the CPA-mandated popular consultations in the states of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. USAID also plans to remain engaged in post-CPA Sudan to support democratic development, especially in the Three Areas and Darfur, but also nationwide in partnership with Sudanese civil society.