UNFPA Sudan 2017-2025

During Sudan's violent war, gender-based violence (GBV) has become a horrific hallmark of the crisis, putting 12 million people at risk of various forms of violence, including sexual violence, child marriage, and exploitation. Hospitals in conflict-affected areas are overwhelmed, with 80% rendered nonfunctional due to destruction and resource shortages. In this dire situation, UNFPA remains the primary agency providing lifesaving SRH and GBV services. UNFPA Sudan has been able to maintain five offices and a network of implementing partners (IPs) and GBV actors, and scaled up its response across all 18 states of Sudan. KEY UNFPA INTERVENTIONS TO PROVIDE LIFESAVING SRH AND GBV SERVICES IN 2024 INCLUDED: SRH Services: 180,000 individuals accessed medical care, 1 million people reached with emergency RH supplies, and 71 mobile clinics served remote areas with 160,000 consultations. Solarization of 19 health facilities ensured uninterrupted power for critical maternal and newborn care. UNFPA also trained midwives, supported 20 emergency obstetric care facilities, supported 7000 safe births, and reached 605,000 people with family planning methods, preventing maternal deaths and empowering women with reproductive choices. UNFPA has tailored its response to the specific needs of survivors of sexual violence, distributing post-rape treatment supplies estimated to support 3,500 survivors. Additionally, in its efforts to mitigate the spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among affected populations, UNFPA provided 13,000 supplies for management of STIs to safeguard the reproductive health of people in Sudan. UNFPA deployed 95 midwives to rural and remote areas. - Each mobile health team is staffed with a medical doctor/assistant, pharmacist, laboratory technician, counseling psychologist, health promoter and midwives. The collaboration between medical professionals and service providers ensures that the clinics are well-equipped to meet the diverse primary healthcare needs of the Sudanese population affected by conflict and displacement. - The solar systems enable all health facilities to continue operating with 24/7 renewably-powered electricity, focusing on the maternity ward, operation rooms, blood bank refrigerators, incubators, medicine storage rooms and administration offices. - UNFPA continues to support voluntary family planning by providing 605,000 family planning commodities, ensuring access to contraceptives and comprehensive education. This support is particularly critical in crisis and famine situations, where women may prefer to delay pregnancies. These efforts reinforce womens empowerment and their right to make informed choices. GBV Prevention and Response: Over 379,000 individuals received GBV prevention and response services, 64 Women and Girls Safe Spaces, in 13 states, supported over 100,000 women, and 3,100 frontline workers were trained in GBV minimum standards, case management, psychosocial support, referral pathways and GBV in Emergencies. Additionally, 66,300 dignity kits were distributed to displaced women and girls. Also, UNFPA has successfully expanded the use of sectoral Cash and Voucher Assistance, establishing it as a vital tool to address immediate needs, facilitate referrals, and enhance access to critical services. In such a complex operational environment, UNFPA leverages its pre-existing network of local organizations, including women-led organizations (WLO), to deliver services across the country. UNFPA is committed to strengthening WLO capacity including their growth into leadership roles. UNFPA also co-chairs the GBV Area of Responsibility (AoR). In 2024, the AoR reached 225,000 individuals with GBV prevention and response services. - In 2024, UNFPA provided 66,300 Dignity Kits critical to maintaining hygiene and dignity for displaced women and girls across Sudan. These kits contain menstrual pads, soap, underwear and other essential items. At the distribution sites of the Dignity Kits, awareness-raising sessions are held for women on topics such as menstrual hygiene, available GBV services and other ways to seek help. Distributions constitute an essential entry to reach out to survivors. In addition, 548 Inter-Agency Reproductive Health (IARH) Kits were distributed across the country to meet the needs of more than 65,841 affected people with life saving SRH services including normal deliveries, C-sections and management of obstetric complications, in addition to STIs management and post rape treatment.

Sida's has an ongoing contribution to UNFPA's current country programme which is extended until the end of 2025. The overall objective of the country programme is to contribute to the Global UNFPA Strategic goal of achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health, promoting reproductive rights, reducing maternal mortality and accelerating progress on the ICPD agenda and SDGs 3, 5 and 6 through the following outcomes: Outcome 1: By 2025, the reduction in the unmet need for family planning has accelerated Outcome 2: By 2025, the reduction of preventable maternal deaths has accelerated Outcome 3: By 2025, the reduction in gender-based violence and harmful practices has accelerated In addition, the UN Development Assistance Framework (extended up to end of 2025) states the following outcome: Outcome 4: By 2021 national, state and local institutions are more effective to carry out their mandates efficiently including strengthened normative frameworks that respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and ensure effective service delivery. Also, the Country Program Document between the Government of Sudan and UNFPA lists three main outputs: Output 1: Strengthened capacities of health ministries and civil society partners at federal and priority states level to ensure access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health services, including in humanitarian settings. Output 2: Strengthened capacities of health ministries and civil society partners at federal and priority states level for better access to high-quality family planning services, including in humanitarian settings. Output 3 Strengthened capacity of government and civil society institutions to prevent and respond to gender-based violence with a special focus on women and young girls, including in humanitarian settings. UNFPA integrated response and thematic areas for 2024 and 2025 include: 1. Strengthening coordination for SRH response in Sudan 2. Improved capacity of Sudan EMONC network and improve access to lifesaving SRH interventions including clinical management of rape 3. Last Mile availability of life-saving sexual and reproductive health commodities and supplies 4. Improved capacities of skilled birth attendants including coverage specially areas with limited access 5. Improved coverage with essential SRH services through supporting capacity of existing PHCs and deployment of temporary clinics and on-the-wheel mobile clinics to the IDP gathering sites and affected areas with limited access to health services 6. Community engagement and empowerment to lead and support in provision of integrated sexual and reproductive health services, including prevention and response of GBV, prevention of HIV amongst Key and vulnerable groups, the active referral of obstetric emergencies, cash and voucher assistance 7. Improved evidence-generation to support programming and effective responses and better targeting including conducting research and studies 8. Strengthening the mechanisms for the provision of Integrated GBV/SRH life-saving services as well as prevention and risk mitigation measures for vulnerable women and girls impacted by the conflict and subsequent displacement, famine and natural disasters 9. Building the resilience of women, girls and the vulnerable population by supporting Livelihood Activities, provision of Dignity Kits, as well as Cash Voucher Assistance 10. Strengthening Localization and Accountability through supporting Women-led Organizations, youth and PWD organisations and initiatives 11. Addressing Social and Gender Norms to prevent GBV and harmful practices including FGM and Child Marriage. In addition to support survivors and facilitate their access to services. 12. Strengthening GBV coordination mechanism to enhance effectiveness of GBV response, strengthening resilience and preparedness, and to promote social cohesion 13. Support Youth by providing life-skills and PSS and strengthening their networks to support building the resilience of communities 14. Support PWD by providing life-skills and PSS support and strengthening PWD networks to participate in local planning, decision-making processes 15. Strengthen PSEA/AAP to raise awareness the rights of beneficiaries and standards of conduct