PORT SUDAN – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) called on Thursday for an inclusive approach to Sudan’s recovery, saying reconstruction efforts should be driven by local communities and supported through dialogue to help lay the foundations for lasting peace.
Speaking during Peacebuilding Week, UNDP Sudan Resident Representative Luca Renda said recovery should go beyond rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the conflict and ensure communities have a meaningful role in shaping the country’s future.
Renda said local communities should be able to identify their priorities, raise concerns and participate in decisions affecting their future, arguing that inclusive dialogue can strengthen trust, reinforce social cohesion and reduce the risk of renewed tensions.
The comments come as Sudan continues to face a severe humanitarian and economic crisis after more than three years of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has devastated infrastructure, displaced millions of people and disrupted basic public services across much of the country.
The United Nations has repeatedly said that recovery in conflict-affected countries requires more than rebuilding physical infrastructure, stressing the importance of restoring local institutions, strengthening governance and supporting community participation to achieve sustainable peace.
UNDP said locally led recovery efforts can help address the underlying drivers of conflict while supporting long-term stability and development in Sudan.
