The African Development Bank Group and the World Health Organization have signed a funding and implementation agreement for the Sudan Health Emergency and Infrastructure Project, a three-year initiative designed to improve access to quality healthcare across the country. Signed on 3 November 2025, the project focuses on strengthening essential health services, enhancing emergency preparedness, and building resilient systems capable of supporting communities affected by conflict and instability.
Through this partnership, WHO will rehabilitate selected health facilities, install essential equipment, and supply primary healthcare centres so they can deliver conflict-sensitive health and nutrition services. The organization will also enhance quality of care by providing training, performance-based incentives, and improved infection prevention and waste management. In addition, WHO will reinforce Sudan’s emergency preparedness through upgraded disease surveillance systems, targeted training, and rapid response team deployment.
According to the African Development Bank Group, the project prioritizes regions such as White Nile, Kordofan, Darfur, and parts of Khartoum, where communities have faced prolonged hardship. The Bank, comprising the AfDB, the African Development Fund, and the Nigeria Trust Fund, operates across 41 African countries, driving economic development and social progress in its 54 member states.
Current assessments show that only 48% of Sudan’s health facilities are fully functional, with the remainder either partially functioning or non-operational. The project aims to address this by restoring essential services for at least 6 million people, including 3 million women and 1.2 million internally displaced persons, ensuring access to comprehensive, quality healthcare.
WHO emphasized that despite more than two years of conflict, it has continued to support the country’s health emergency response with technical, operational, and supply chain assistance. With stability returning to parts of Sudan, the organization stressed the need to combine response and recovery efforts. The African Development Bank echoed this commitment, noting WHO’s expertise in managing complex health emergencies and expressing confidence that the project will strengthen Sudan’s health system and support long-term resilience.
