Women collect water from a haffir. Picture: Practical Action
Decades of war have left Sudan with a legacy of chronic poverty, inequality, and continuing violence and insecurity. Following a referendum in January 2011, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July, completing a historic transition from one country to two.
DFID now has separate offices and programmes in Khartoum and Juba to support the two new countries: Sudan and South Sudan. Ensuring the stability of both countries, reducing the risk of further conflict and tackling extreme poverty will be the principal aims of our assistance in both places.
In Sudan, there are high levels of inequality with many people unable to access basic services: education, health and clean water. This is accompanied by an ongoing fear of further instability and violence. DFID is determined to ensure that UK aid reaches the people who need it most, and will focus its efforts both on responding to immediate humanitarian needs and on longer term development priorities that will reduce the risk of further conflict.
Top priorities
- Improving security across the country by focusing on conflict reduction and peace-building between Sudan and South Sudan, in the border areas, the East, and in Darfur
- Increasing access to health, education, water and sanitation, and justice services across all states
- Respondng to ongoing humanitarian needs in Darfur, the Eastern states, and the border areas
- Encouraging a more equitable and transparent use of the national budget to help reduce extreme poverty
We will spend approximately £46 million per year in Sudan until 2015.
You can find information and key facts for South Sudan under the 'Africa: Eastern & Southern' section, or by clicking the link below.
Where we work: South Sudan