Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment his Department has made of the needs of civil society in Sudan; and what support his Department plans to provide to those groups.

DFID recognises the essential role of Sudanese civil society in securing a transition to a stable political system that is inclusive, respects democratic norms and allows open and ongoing political dialogue. Until the end of 2018, the Local Partnerships for Dialogue Programme provided support to civil society, media, and women and youth groups, with the aim of strengthening their capacity to demand more inclusive, democratic and accountable governance.

DFID has resources within its current framework to continue the UK’s support of Sudanese non-state actors, and their important participation in the transition. This could take the form of support to the handover to a civilian-led government, through technical assistance to negotiation and mediation efforts; and further capacity building for civil society organisations to build their resilience and capacity to champion inclusive dialogue.