The Sudan Policy Advisory Group (SPAG) was established in 2022 around a simple premise: Sudan’s long-term recovery and transformation require stronger links between evidence, strategic thinking, institutional capacity and practical policy solutions. From its beginnings as an independent policy initiative bringing together Sudanese expertise, SPAG has continued to develop its institutional foundations and expand the scope of its work.
In September 2026, SPAG entered a new phase with its formal establishment in Paris as a non-profit association governed by the French Law of 1 July 1901. Its statutory mandate encompasses strategic planning, public-policy research, governance advisory services, institutional and human-capacity development, policy dialogue, innovation and sustainable development, with a particular focus on Sudan and countries of the Horn of Africa facing transition or post-conflict challenges.
Research and evidence remain at the centre of SPAG’s approach. The Group seeks to produce and support policy analysis, strategic assessments and practical recommendations that respond to Sudan’s realities while drawing on relevant regional and international experience. By bringing together research, economic analysis, data and multidisciplinary expertise, SPAG aims to strengthen the connection between knowledge and decision-making.
SPAG also serves as a platform for dialogue and collaboration. Its mandate includes facilitating engagement among public institutions, civil society, researchers, development actors, international institutions and the Sudanese diaspora. The objective is not only to generate ideas, but to create spaces in which evidence and diverse expertise can contribute to more coherent approaches to governance, reconstruction, peace and sustainable development.
Beyond research and policy advice, SPAG places emphasis on institutional and human capacity. Training, leadership development, technical assistance and institutional partnerships are intended to help translate policy thinking into stronger systems and implementation capacity. Innovation and digital transformation remain important enabling areas, particularly where technology and data can improve institutional performance, access to knowledge and evidence-based planning.
SPAG’s institutional development is supported by a governance model that distinguishes statutory governance, professional management and operational delivery. The General Assembly and Executive Bureau provide the Association’s governance foundation, while its evolving professional management and technical structure is designed to support effective implementation as SPAG grows.
The Group’s long-term ambition remains centred on contributing to a more peaceful, capable and prosperous Sudan through rigorous analysis, constructive dialogue and practical solutions. SPAG will continue to draw on Sudanese and international expertise, develop institutional partnerships, and create opportunities for researchers, practitioners and stakeholders to contribute to Sudan’s future.
