The African Development Bank and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have formalized their partnership to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan at a ceremony held during the Bank Group's 2025 Annual Meetings.
This joint initiative aims to enhance the resilience of women and conflict-affected communities in Sudan. It will deliver life-saving services and foster economic recovery in one of the world's most complex humanitarian contexts. Funded by a $19.85 million grant from the Bank's Transition Support Facility and a $47.5 million contribution from the ICRC, the Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project will reach more than a million women and vulnerable individuals.
African Development Bank Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Dr. Beth Dunford, and ICRC Vice President Gilles Carbonnier signed a funding and implementation agreement for the Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project on Thursday, 29 May.
"This partnership draws on the African Development Bank's expertise in long-term development finance and the ICRC's deep humanitarian experience and access to some of the world's most troubled areas. Together, we aim to support women and communities affected by conflict, helping to build a more resilient and sustainable future to some of the most vulnerable in Africa," said Dr. Dunford.
Since conflict erupted in Sudan in April 2023, millions of women and families have been displaced. Many essential services have collapsed, food insecurity has surged, and gender-based violence has escalated at an alarming rate. Women and girls have borne the brunt of this crisis.
More than 26 million people in Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance, and at least 13 million people have been displaced internally or in neighboring countries. Women and girls are disproportionately face alarming levels of food insecurity and gender-based violence. In more than 90 percent of Sudan's localities, gender-based violence response services are unavailable.
The Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project is designed to support communities across the most affected areas of Sudan where infrastructure has collapsed, and essential services are largely unavailable. The project focuses on restoring access to water, health and social services through gender-responsive infrastructure, revitalizing local economies with attention to women's economic empowerment, and strengthening inclusive policy dialogue and institutional capacity - especially in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
"This partnership has a major impact for people affected by the conflict in Sudan, particularly women and their families," said Carbonnier. "The ICRC brings its presence and operational expertise, while the Bank contributes its strategic resources. By each bringing our added value, we can truly make a difference."
The African Development Bank Group is committed to delivering on its latest Ten-Year Strategy which emphasizes building resilience and supporting recovery in fragile contexts. Bank support for the project also represents a landmark humanitarian-development collaboration that may serve as a model for future joint actions in conflict-affected regions.
The African Development Bank's Gender, Women, and Civil Society Department will lead on this first project under the new partnership. Their focus will be advancing gender equality, empowering women, and strengthening civil society to help ensure the project delivers transformative impact.
