As part of the first-ever direct contribution between the two UN agencies in the country, the Sudan Emergency Safety Nets Project aims to provide cash transfers and food to more than two million people in this impoverished and crisis-ridden country, including internally displaced persons.

“WFP is extremely grateful to the World Bank for this generous contribution, at a crucial time in Sudan where more and more people are unsure where their next meal will come from,” said Eddie Rowe, WFP Representative and Director country in Sudan.

Food insecurity

The country’s economic and political crisis has worsened due to rising inflation, conflict and displacement. This situation has been exacerbated by climatic shocks – including droughts and floods, and a poor harvest – all of which have increased food insecurity across Sudan.

As hunger continues to rise at “an alarming rate”, a third of the population faces food insecurity, the WFP said.

By September, up to 18 million people, or 40% of the population, could fall into hunger, according to the Global Food Security and Vulnerability Assessment released in June.

Save lives

In Sudan, WFP works to support people facing acute hunger while addressing the root causes of food insecurity.

The recently launched project will enable the UN food aid agency to save lives while laying the foundations for a more targeted social safety net system in Sudan by helping the most vulnerable to withstand shocks and create more resilient long-term livelihoods.

“This funding will help alleviate a looming hunger crisis in Sudan and inform future social safety net systems for the country’s most vulnerable that are not only saving but changing lives,” Rowe said.

Shortfall despite generosity

The allocation was provided by the Sudan Transition and Recovery Support (STARS) Trust Fund managed by the World Bank, supported by the European Union, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Norway, Canada, Italy. , Finland, Spain, Ireland and the State and Peacebuilding Fund administered by the World Bank.

Yet despite this substantial contribution, WFP still needs at least an additional $266 million by the end of the year to reach more than 10 million vulnerable people annually.

Since the start of 2022, WFP has provided 4.8 million people across Sudan with life-saving food or cash and nutrition support, school meals and livelihood opportunities.