In 2022–21, Sudan continued to face political and economic challenges as it slowly transitions to democratic government. Like the rest of the world, it also grappled with COVID-19.

Our work expanded to new states (the Blue Nile and South Kordofan) and we developed a network of more than 30 civil society partners that supported over 300 locally-led initiatives. These projects, ranging in scope and length, focused on supporting youth and women’s groups to achieve their demands for democratic transition and lead efforts for peaceful co-existence between ethnic groups. In Habila County, we supported local organisations to lead peaceful dialogues between the nomad Arabs (Darrnaalea tribe) and Wauncho (Nuba tribe), after decades of conflict. Following prolonged intervention and advocacy, the two tribes signed an agreement to end the violence. As a result of this agreement, Arab cattle keepers peacefully passed through Nuba territory and accessed grazing land and water during the drought season.

At the national level, we supported our partners to connect civil society representatives from the peripheries to national policy dialogues on peace processes with government, international agencies and the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). Consequently, UNITAMS is keen to set up a mechanism nationally and in key regions to ensure greater and continuous civil society participation. Alongside our partners, we led a historic trustbuilding meeting in Haiban and the Nuba Mountains between civil society representatives from government-controlled areas and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North-(SPLM-N-) controlled areas.

We have also undertaken advocacy on a range of issues, including on economic reform, the Juba peace process, and its five tracks. Through the UK non-governmental organisations Working Group on Sudan, we have also regularly engaged with key UK officials, including the UK Special Envoy on Sudan.