Sudan Gets $51M to Bring Clean Water to 3 States

Millions of people in Sudan are about to get access to safe drinking water thanks to a breakthrough $51 million agreement signed this week in Khartoum.

Finance Minister Dr. Gebreil Ibrahim partnered with the African Development Bank and UNICEF on Thursday to restart three water projects that had stalled during the country's recent challenges. The new Emergency Water and Sanitation Project will focus on Port Sudan, North Kordofan, and South Kordofan states.

The project tackles water scarcity head-on with practical solutions. Engineers will rehabilitate the Arbaat well field, build a desalination plant producing 10,000 cubic meters of water daily, and construct new dams and transmission networks in Port Sudan.

El-Obeid will get solar-powered water services, bringing sustainable energy and clean water together. South Kordofan will receive eight new water yards to serve communities across the state.

Beyond infrastructure, the initiative strengthens local water companies through training and capacity building. This ensures communities can maintain and manage their own water systems long after the project ends.

The Ripple Effect: Access to clean water transforms everything. Children miss fewer school days from waterborne illness. Women spend less time traveling to distant wells and more time on education or income. Healthcare facilities can operate more effectively with reliable water supplies.

The $51 million investment will roll out over three years starting August 31, 2026. A steering committee led by the Ministry of Finance, UNICEF, and the Drinking Water Unit will manage progress through regular checkpoints.

This partnership shows what's possible when international development banks, UN agencies, and national governments align their resources toward urgent human needs. Three abandoned projects became one powerful solution.

Communities across Port Sudan and the Kordofan states are finally getting the water infrastructure they've needed for years.