KHARTOUM, Sudan, 30 April, 2014—The Sudan National Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF-N) was officially closed at a public event led by His Excellency Magdi Yassin, State Minister at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, and Ms. Bella Bird, World Bank Country Director for Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia. The event was attended by representatives of bilateral and multilateral agencies, leaders from the private sector, media and civil society in Sudan.
The MDTF contributed to several important results to the benefit of the people of Sudan.
- The fifth national census provided critical information, setting the stage for future programs.
- Capacity building for key economic functions and public financial management contributing to improved fiduciary oversight and control.
- Helping 780,000 people access basic health, nutrition and population services.
- Providing one million people with access to safe water and/or sanitation.
- Revitalizing rural jobs benefitting 160,692 livestock farmers who doubled their incomes.
- Helping 130 Gum Arabic Producers Associations to invest and improve production leading to a 120% increase in exports.
- Enrolling one million children in 567 newly-built/rehabilitated schools and securing an additional US$76.5 m in donor funding for Sudan’s education sector.
“The MDTF’s results stand as an important reminder that, in spite of the very difficult and real challenges facing Sudan, it is possible to achieve important development results”, says Xavier Furtado, the World Bank’s Country Representative in Khartoum. “We must continue to find ways to build on the results achieved to support the needs and aspirations of Sudan’s poor”, he said.
On April 10, the Executive Board of the World Bank approved a new trust fund for Sudan - the Sudan Multi-Partner Fund will operate until December 2019.
“The World Bank maintains an active portfolio of over $100 million in development programs, cutting across a range of sectors such as education and natural resource management,” says Bella Bird, World Bank Country Director. “The new Sudan Multi-Partner Fund is an important addition to our overall partnership with and for the people of Sudan.”
