Long-term planning needs stable institutions, reliable public revenue, good data and time. For much of its recent history, Sudan has had too little of all four.
This article looks at four obstacles to strategic planning and sustainable development in Sudan (instability and conflict, economic fragility, social inequality and environmental pressure) and at policy options for each.
The context
Sudan is the third-largest country in Africa, with extensive farmland, livestock, mineral resources and a large young population. Its development has nonetheless been held back for decades by instability, conflict and economic crises. The secession of South Sudan in 2011 removed most of the country’s oil production, which until then had provided the large majority of its export earnings and a large share of public revenue.
Since April 2023, armed conflict has caused mass displacement, severe damage to infrastructure and public services, and a deep economic contraction. It has made every challenge below harder and has, for now, made long-term national planning very difficult. Planning for recovery, when conditions allow, will need to start from these realities.
1 · Instability and conflict
Since independence in 1956, Sudan has seen repeated changes of government and long periods of conflict. Frequent changes of government, conflict and weak accountability have undermined public institutions and the continuity of policy. Plans are drawn up and then abandoned before they can take effect, and institutional knowledge is lost with each turnover of staff.
Policy options
Institutions that outlast governments
Professional civil service, clear mandates and proper record-keeping, so that plans survive changes of leadership.
Transparency and accountability
Public budgets, published plans and independent audit, which reduce the room for corruption and build public trust.
Inclusive dialogue
Dialogue among stakeholders can help build the consensus that long-term planning depends on.
2 · Economic fragility
After 2011, Sudan lost most of its oil revenue, and gold became its largest export. The loss of oil income, past sanctions and weak macroeconomic management contributed to very high inflation, a falling currency and high unemployment, especially among young people. The conflict since 2023 has deepened the contraction, disrupting agriculture, industry and trade.
Policy options
A broader economic base
Agriculture and agro-processing, livestock, responsibly governed mining and renewable energy, to reduce dependence on a single commodity.
Macroeconomic stability
Credible measures to control inflation and stabilise the currency, which any long-term plan depends on.
A clearer business environment
Simpler regulation and fewer administrative barriers, to encourage domestic and foreign investment.
3 · Social inequality and human development
Access to education, health care and basic services differs widely between regions, between urban and rural areas, and between social groups. These gaps keep people in poverty and weaken social cohesion. Before the war, human development indicators were already low. The conflict has interrupted schooling for millions of children and put severe strain on the health system.
Policy options
Education in underserved areas
Schools, teachers and learning materials where access is weakest, and ways to help children whose schooling has been interrupted catch up.
Health services
Restoring facilities, training health workers and securing supplies of essential medicines.
Social protection
Targeted support for the most vulnerable households, including displaced people and returnees.
4 · Environmental pressure and climate change
Deforestation, desertification and water scarcity already affect large parts of Sudan, and climate change is making rainfall less predictable and droughts and floods more severe. Because so many livelihoods depend on farming and herding, environmental pressure is also an economic and social problem, and a source of competition over land and water.
Policy options
Sustainable land use
Sustainable farming and forestry practices, including the gum arabic belt, to slow deforestation and desertification.
Integrated water management
Planning the use of the Nile, groundwater and seasonal rivers together, across sectors and regions.
Climate adaptation
Adaptation plans that build resilience to drought and flooding into agriculture, infrastructure and settlement planning.
Instability and conflict, economic fragility, social inequality and environmental pressure reinforce one another, and none can be solved in isolation. Stronger institutions, a broader economy, better access to services and sustainable use of natural resources would allow Sudan to make progress toward sustainable development.
The Sudan Policy Advisory Group contributes to these efforts through research and policy analysis, and by making evidence and recommendations available to the institutions and partners involved. Read more about our work on strategic planning.
Sources for figures
- International Organization for Migration (IOM), Displacement Tracking Matrix, Sudan. Figures reported June 2026.
- Central Bureau of Statistics, Sudan. Annual average inflation, 2021.
- UNDP (2025). Human Development Report 2025, Statistical Annex (2023 data).
- Transparency International (2026). Corruption Perceptions Index 2025.
First published June 2024. Revised September 2026 to reflect the conflict since April 2023, to replace figures that were undated or could not be sourced, and to align with SPAG’s editorial standards, in line with SPAG’s policy on post-publication correction.
