Paris, 1 September 2026 — The Sudan Policy Advisory Group (SPAG) has entered a new phase of its institutional development following its formal establishment in France as a non-profit association under the Law of 1 July 1901.

The milestone builds on the initiative launched in August 2022 by Sudanese professionals, academics and experts, led by the late Prof. Dr. Amel Bakhiet, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Elgamel and Saeed ZAKI, to create an independent and non-partisan platform for strategic thinking, public policy and long-term national development.

SPAG’s formal establishment provides a stronger institutional foundation for its expanding work in strategic planning, capacity development, governance, research, innovation and policy advisory support, with Sudan remaining at the centre of its mandate.

The organisation brings together expertise inside Sudan and across the diaspora, creating a structured platform through which professional knowledge, research and international experience can contribute to longer-term national priorities.

“Formalising SPAG’s institutional presence in France gives us a stronger foundation from which to organise Sudanese expertise, uphold the institutional standards we have set for ourselves, and invest in the serious long-term work of preparing ideas, capacity and policy solutions for Sudan’s future,” said Saeed ZAKI, President of the Sudan Policy Advisory Group.

SPAG’s work is organised around four principal pillars: Strategic Planning, Capacity Building, Solidarity and Innovation, supported by specialised working groups covering key areas of public policy and national development.

Flagship initiatives being developed under this framework include Sudan Vision 2030, the Sudan Academy of Public Administration, the Sudan Solidarity Board, and the Sudan Digital Transformation Initiative.

The institutional development is also accompanied by strengthened governance and organisational systems, including formal decision-making arrangements, accountability mechanisms, and a growing framework of policies and internal controls intended to support transparent and responsible operations.

To accompany this institutional milestone, SPAG has released the first episode of its Audio Briefing Series, providing an introduction to the organisation’s origins, working model and longer-term ambitions.

Building Before the Peace: Sudan’s Borderless Brain Trust” explores how Sudanese expertise — both within the country and throughout the diaspora — can remain connected to national recovery, institutional renewal and future development.

The briefing examines an important idea underpinning SPAG’s approach: that preparation for recovery need not wait until a crisis has ended. It considers how policy frameworks, institutional knowledge, professional networks and human capacity can be developed in advance so that expertise is available when national circumstances allow it to make the greatest contribution.

Listeners are also introduced to SPAG’s strategic pillars, working groups and flagship initiatives, as well as the broader role that diaspora expertise can play in preserving and strengthening national intellectual and institutional capacity.

Audio Briefing 01 · 19 min
Building Before the Peace: Sudan’s Borderless Brain Trust

How SPAG is bringing together Sudanese expertise at home and across the diaspora to prepare for recovery and institutional renewal. An AI-narrated summary of SPAG’s published work — where it differs from the documents, the documents stand.

As SPAG moves into this next phase, its focus will increasingly turn towards translating its institutional foundation into research, policy initiatives, capacity development and substantive programmes.

The organisation’s evolution reflects a long-term commitment to creating a credible, structured and collaborative space through which Sudanese expertise can contribute ideas, evidence and practical solutions relevant to the country’s future.

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Sudan Policy Advisory Group (SPAG) is an independent, non-partisan policy and advisory organisation bringing together professionals, researchers, academics and specialists to advance strategic thinking, public policy, institutional development and capacity building, with a primary focus on Sudan and relevance to transitional and post-conflict contexts.

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For further information, interview requests or media enquiries, please contact: Communications Team, Sudan Policy Advisory Group, Email: info@sudanadvisory.org | www.sudanadvisory.org