The African Development Bank Group has resumed its full presence in Sudan after operating virtually for the past two years, marking a significant step in maintaining development support amid the country’s ongoing crisis. The return follows a two-day Country Portfolio Performance Review held in Port Sudan on 29–30 April 2026, the first in-person review meeting since the outbreak of Sudan’s civil war three years ago.
The review reaffirmed the African Development Bank’s role as a major development partner in Sudan, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings. The Bank continues to focus its interventions on agriculture, health, skills development, water and sanitation, and social infrastructure, while working closely with the Sudanese government and international partners to sustain critical development programmes.
According to the Bank’s Country Manager, David Muthusi Mutuku, the Country Portfolio Performance Review serves as a joint exercise between the government and the Bank to evaluate project quality and implementation performance, identify lessons learned, and address challenges affecting project delivery. He noted that this year’s review was particularly important due to the participation of United Nations agencies and other international organisations operating in Sudan.
The Government of Sudan, represented by Ekhlass Mohammed Ali, Director General for Foreign Finance in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, described the meeting as an important milestone in strengthening the strategic partnership between Sudan and the African Development Bank Group. She highlighted the importance of development partners in supporting economic recovery, rebuilding institutions, and strengthening resilience during the country’s ongoing crisis.
Participants in the review identified several major obstacles affecting project implementation, including volatile costs, security risks, staffing shortages, electricity disruptions, and restricted access to project locations. Stakeholders also agreed on the need to strengthen monitoring systems and improve environmental and social safeguard reporting to ensure more effective project management.
The African Development Bank emphasized the importance of managing fiduciary risks, improving operational efficiency under difficult conditions, and enhancing collaboration among development partners. The Bank also encouraged greater coordination and expertise-sharing among implementing agencies to improve impact and achieve economies of scale.
Due to Sudan’s political instability, the Bank currently delivers projects through third-party implementation arrangements involving United Nations agencies and international organisations. Existing implementation partners include the World Food Programme, the International Organization for Migration, the World Health Organization, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Additional partnerships have recently been established with UNICEF, UNDP, and UNFPA to support ongoing and future interventions.
The portfolio review process will lead to the preparation of the 2026–2028 Country Portfolio Improvement Plan, which will outline measures aimed at resolving implementation bottlenecks, accelerating disbursement, and improving development outcomes. The plan will be presented to the Bank’s Board Committee on Development Effectiveness for approval.
The African Development Bank’s work in Sudan is guided by the Sudan Country Brief 2017–2024 Update, which has been extended through December 2026. The framework prioritises capacity building for improved social service delivery and agricultural development to support livelihoods and job creation.
As of May 2026, the Bank’s active portfolio in Sudan consists of 17 ongoing projects valued at approximately $833 million. The projects cover sectors including agriculture, health, water and sanitation, and social infrastructure, with additional interventions expected to be approved later in the year.
The African Development Bank noted that Sudan remains one of its largest fragile situation portfolios, reflecting the country’s strategic importance for regional stability, trade, and economic connectivity across the Horn of Africa.
