Sudan remains one of the world’s most under-resourced humanitarian crises despite the UK doubling its annual aid to £231 million, according to a new report by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI). The review covers six years of UK engagement, from the 2019 democratic transition following President Omar al-Bashir’s fall to the current devastating conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023. More than 30 million people in Sudan require urgent humanitarian assistance, with an additional four million displaced to neighboring countries. The crisis has caused widespread famine, strained regional resources, and created complex challenges for the international humanitarian system.
ICAI finds that while the UK has shown leadership in the crisis, its response could be strengthened through better staffing, sustained funding, and improved cross-government coordination. Although UK aid doubled in 2024-25, operational constraints, high staff turnover, and security restrictions, including the evacuation of Khartoum in 2023, have limited engagement with local actors. The report emphasizes that money and ambition must be matched by sufficient human resources and long-term, predictable support.
The review highlights the disproportionate impact of the conflict on women and girls, including large-scale sexual violence and enduring harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation. While the UK has prioritized gender equality and raised global awareness, Sudanese civil society reports that advocacy has not consistently translated into concrete support. ICAI notes that although gender considerations are mainstreamed across aid programs, there is limited evidence of improved outcomes for women and girls in complex humanitarian contexts.
ICAI also identifies challenges in UK influence, which was undermined by past aid budget cuts in 2021-22 and episodes of uncertainty over future funding. Despite this, UK staff are recognized for their expertise, professionalism, and commitment. Partnerships with multilateral organizations, including the African Union and UN agencies, have helped deliver critical support in food security, malnutrition treatment, and protection services. The UK has also scaled up assistance in neighboring Chad and South Sudan to support refugees and host communities.
The review offers seven recommendations for strengthening UK engagement, including maintaining sustained high-level political attention, developing a clear regional strategy, providing multi-year protected funding for Sudan’s priority status, and adopting more agile aid delivery models. It calls for increased direct funding to local Sudanese organizations, simplified compliance procedures, and learning lessons from Sudan to inform international leadership in responding to complex humanitarian crises. The report underscores that addressing the Sudan crisis requires not only increased financial resources but also reforms to aid coordination and delivery to maximize impact in fragile contexts.
