The Helping Hands of Sudan

Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world with at least 40% of its citizens living below the poverty line. The country has struggled with decades-long civil conflict and rampant government corruption, which has resulted in continuous economic and political instability.

There are many local and international charity organisations in Sudan helping those in need by providing them with basic needs such as water, food, clothing, shelter, sanitation or hygiene, and more. Many of these charity organisations rely on donations and volunteers to help reach as many as possible and make a great impact.

Here are some of the leading local and international charity organisations in Sudan:

HOPE Sudan

Hope and Friendship for Development Organization (HOPE) Sudan is a national, non-governmental, non-profit and voluntary organisation that was established in 2014 and officially registered in Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in 2015 founded by specialists of peace building and development who have been working in Sudan since 2003.

Since its foundation, HOPE Sudan has been working effectively among the communities towards spreading the message of peace, and disseminates values of peaceful coexistence, and building capacities to transform conflicts and promoting social cohesion and integration focusing on capacity building of community actors, natural resources management, increase access to basic services and providing assets of livelihoods. HOPE Sudan emphasises the role of youth, children and women in Sudan in the sectors activities. HOPE Sudan activities are community-based oriented using community development approaches. It works in sectors of Peacebuilding, FSL, Health and Nutrition, WASH, Education, and Capacity Development and Consultation Services. Most of HOPE Sudan staff and volunteers received intensive training in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, Alternative to Violence Projects (AVP), organisational management in the framework of NGOs, Project Cycle Management (PCM) and technical issues of HOPE Sudan’s field work.

Contact: +249 122 342 077, info@hopesudan.org

Website: www.hopesudan.org

Social media: Facebook www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064894532312

Khotwa Charity Foundation

Khotwa Charity Foundation is a non-governmental charitable organisation that aims to improve the health sector in Sudan through establishing a chain of charitable specialised hospitals. Established in March 2020 by a group of the pioneers in voluntary work and in co-operation with elite professors in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, architecture, law and other fields, and it was officially approved as a voluntary foundation that is registered under the umbrella of the Humanitarian Aid Commission on 20 January 2021. Donations can help Khotwa provide medical and health products in struggling hospitals/clinics and/or those in need, establish scientific research centres, build specialised hospitals, rehabilitate hospitals, and more.

Contact: +249 118 010 240

Website: khotwacf.org/en/home-2/

Social media: Facebook www.facebook.com/khotwacharityfoundation/, Twitter @Khotwacharityf1

Education Without Borders (EWB)

Education Without Borders (EWB) is a youth voluntary group with the aim to help and contribute to the development of education and the educational system in Sudan by providing integrated educational programmes. One of their programmes is the “Your old book is my new book” initiative, which to collect used school books and redistribute them among the children in need across Sudan. One of the main focuses of EWB is the maintenance of schools. It has participated in maintenance and renovation of schools in different rural areas in Sudan. EWB is open to donations as well as volunteers.

Contact: +249 12 558 9266, ewbsudan2011@gmail.com

Social media: Facebook www.facebook.com/EWBSudan

International Committee of the Red Cross in Sudan (ICRC Sudan)

The ICRC has been present in Sudan since 1978 helping people affected by the conflict in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan, and promoting international humanitarian law (IHL). Their work, independently or in cooperation with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS), includes supporting hospitals and health facilities with equipment and supplies, working with local water authorities on improving people’s access to clean water, and supporting the authorities who provide rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. ICRC Sudan provide displaced people in conflict-affected areas with emergency assistance, distribute seeds and tools to farmers, and vaccinate pastoralists’ livestock against disease. ICRC Sudan are helping families separated by conflict or displacement keep in touch, and have facilitated the release of detainees upon request of the parties. ICRC Sudan have given former detainees clothes and paid for their transport to go home.

Contact: +249 183 476 464/5/6, more contacts here

Website: www.icrc.org/en/where-we-work/africa/sudan

Social media: Twitter @ICRC_Sudan

Sadagaat Charity Organisation

Sadagaat Charity Organisation is a registered charity of the Voluntary and Humanitarian Action Commission, which has been active in assisting vulnerable groups for more than 15 years under four sectors: Feeding Health, Wash and Education. They have conducted many successful projects, whether seasonal or ongoing, which were implemented through the support of philanthropists from within and outside Sudan. The implementation of these projects is by an integrated administrative body, starting with members of the Sadagaat community and an executive unit that directly supervises daily activities. Sadagaat or sadaqat is the plural of sadaqa, which in Islam is a voluntary charitable act towards others, whether through generosity, love, compassion or faith.

Sadagaat is always in need of donations as well as volunteers. To donate, visit www.sadagaat.com/donate. To volunteer, visit www.sadagaat.com/volunteerForm.

Contact: +249 910 010 077, info@sadagaat.com

Website: www.sadagaat.com

Social media: Facebook www.facebook.com/Sadagaat/, Instagram @sadagaat_organization, Twitter @Sadagaat

Save the Children (Sudan)

Save the Children works across 10 major locations, including Khartoum, Blue Nile, West Kordofan, North Darfur, West Darfur and Central Darfur, Red Sea and more in Sudan. With a country office in Khartoum, Save the Children have seven fully operational state level offices and about 13 to 15 sub-offices at the locality level.

Website: sudan.savethechildren.net

Social media: Facebook www.facebook.com/SaveTheChildrenSudan/, Twitter @SC_inSudan

Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS)

SRCS was established by government decree in 1956 and recognised as a National Society and accepted into the movement the following year. The Society has 15 branches and more than 75 units across Sudan, with an active volunteer base of some 35,000. SRCS operates throughout Sudan, in what are often extremely difficult conditions caused by a succession of internal armed conflicts, including in Darfur, South Kordofan, Abyei and Blue Nile, and by the drought, desertification and other natural disasters that have beset eastern and northern Sudan and Kordofan.

Contact: +249 183 772 011

Website: srcs.sd

USAID Sudan

On 25 October 2021, Sudan’s military seized power, resulting in the US Government to pause on new obligations from a USD700 million fiscal year 2021 one-time appropriation in assistance for Sudan and ceased support to Sudan’s government. USAID then expanded activities that support the Sudanese people in their democratic aspirations. USAID’s goal remains to help the people of Sudan fulfill their aspirations for freedom, peace, justice, and a prosperous future. USAID remains the largest donor of assistance to the people of Sudan. After decades of helping the Sudanese through conflict, famine, and ongoing emergency needs, USAID maintains a robust humanitarian portfolio and a growing development portfolio.

Contact: +249 187 022 000 (US Embassy in Sudan)

Website: www.usaid.gov/sudan

Social media: Facebook www.facebook.com/USAIDSudan, Twitter @USAIDSudan

WFP Sudan

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to escalate, with a steady increase in hunger. Over a third of the population, an estimated 15 million people including refugees, are experiencing acute food insecurity. Approximately 3 mn people remain displaced by the crisis. Increasing food and fuel prices, economic and political crises, conflict, displacement, poor harvests and climate shocks such as floods are the main drivers of food insecurity. In Sudan, WFP provides food assistance, nutrition, school feeding programmes, food system and safety nets, post-harvest losses and common services. WFP is conducting emergency operations in Sudan to help people affected by the conflict, economic crisis and climate shocks. 

Contact: +249 183 248 001

Website: wfp.org/countries/Sudan

Social media: Twitter @WFP_Sudan

UN agencies in Sudan

IOM Sudan

Established in 1951, IOM is the United Nations (UN) related organisation in the field of migration with offices in over 100 countries. IOM has been leading the work on migration and migration-related issues in Sudan for over 20 years. With its main office in Khartoum, IOM Sudan works to support migrants, displaced populations, and communities in Sudan to realise their full potential in an inclusive, equitable and peaceful environment where in national and local authorities pursue effective migration management and governance in support of migrants and communities in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the African Union 2063 Agenda. In Sudan, IOM works across a wide range of migration-related work in close cooperation with government, national and international partners.

Contact: +249 156 554 600/1/2, iomkhartoum@iom.int

Website: sudan.iom.int

Social media: Facebook www.facebook.com/IOMSudan2015, Twitter @IOMSudan, Instagram @iomsudan

UNDP Sudan

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been operational in Sudan since 1965, supporting millions of people in need, including local communities, internally displaced persons, refugees, returnees, migrants, women, and youth. Guided by the vision of Sudan’s transition and ongoing peace efforts, and with dedicated assistance from the international community and national partners, UNDP’s work currently focuses on supporting those left behind in key areas of development. This is done in alignment with the rest of the UN and the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP Sudan is focused on five aspects: Peace and Stabilisation, Rule of Law and Justice Reform, Democratic Transition and Institutional Reform, Democratic Transition and Economic Recovery, Health for Development, and Access to Energy and Climate Change.

Contact: +249 187 120 000

Website: www.undp.org/sudan

Social media: Facebook www.facebook.com/UNDPSudan/, Twitter @UNDP_Sudan, Instagram @undpsudan

UNHCR Sudan

Sudan hosts 1.1 million refugees, one of the largest refugee populations in Africa. South Sudanese represent more than 70% (800,000) of the refugees in Sudan. The country also counts more than three million internally displaced persons, mostly in the Darfur region that has experienced a volatile security situation for almost two decades. UNHCR continues working closely with more than 40 partners to meet the needs of the forcibly displaced, seeking solutions while pursuing peaceful coexistence among communities.

For legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection, visit Refworld. For up-to-date information about UNHCR’s programmes and operations in Sudan, including funding level and donor contributions, visit Global Focus, UNHCR’s reporting portal.

Contact: +249 183 471 013, SUDKH@unhcr.org

Website: www.unhcr.org/sudan.html

Social media: Facebook www.facebook.com/UNHCRinSudan/, Twitter @UNHCRinSudan

UNICEF Sudan

UNICEF started delivering programmes for children and women in 1952, with a permanent office established in Khartoum in 1974. Through life-saving interventions, UNICEF Sudan contributes to national efforts that enable all children and adolescents in Sudan, especially those in the most vulnerable situations, to have their rights progressively fulfilled and to develop to their full potential in an inclusive and protective environment. UNICEF works with partners to reach every child with basic services and protection. UNICEF apply a life-cycle approach in their programming, which starts with pregnant women and follows the child when she or he is born, develops, learns and thrives until adulthood. UNICEF Sudan is always in need of donations to provide vulnerable children in Sudan with protection, health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, and education.

Contact: +249 156 553 670

Website: www.unicef.org/sudan/

Social media: Facebook www.facebook.com/UNICEFSudan/, Twitter @UNICEFSudan, Instagram @unicefsudan

Other non-profit organisations providing aid in Sudan:

Catholic Agency For Overseas Development (CAFOD)

CAFOD has been supporting projects in Darfur since 2004 to provide water and sanitation, health clinics, treatment for malnutrition, education, and support for people in making a living. In the west of Sudan, conflict in Darfur has driven more than two million people from their homes into refugee camps, where they are very vulnerable to coronavirus. These communities can’t return to their land or rebuild their villages. CAFOD are also supporting children whose families have been displaced by fighting in other parts of the country. CAFOD are helping to provide emergency education, and support for local families in making a living. With donations, CAFOD gave a lifeline to half a million people in Darfur as they face the threat of coronavirus, provides water and sanitation, health clinics and treatment for malnutrition that will be crucial in fighting the spread of this disease among this vulnerable community, and gave practical help to families who have fled fighting in other parts of the country, including education and support for them to make a living during the coronavirus crisis. 

For more information or to donate, visit the CAFOD website.

International Rescue Committee (IRC) 

The International Rescue Committee is scaling up aid in Sudan where conflict, extreme weather events, locust infestations, rising food costs, COVID-19, and other factors are driving increased humanitarian need. Sudan is under the IRC’s Crisis Watch.

For more information or to donate, visit the IRC website.

Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief’s first ever intervention was in response to the devastating famine in western Sudan in 1984. They continue to respond to emergencies providing food aid, healthcare, and water and sanitation. They are also working on more long-term development, building skills and awareness in local government and communities, helping to improve people’s education and livelihoods, and promoting peace-building and children’s and women’s rights. A major aim of their work in Sudan is to reduce the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM).

Islamic Relief works in Khartoum, Blue Nile, North Kordofan, South Kordofan, Central Darfur, West Darfur, Kassala and El Gedarif, supporting 26 health centres across the country: 15 in Central Darfur, three in North Kordofan, four in Blue Nile and four in South Kordofan, and supporting 12 nutritional feeding centres in Central Darfur. Islamic Relief is running a conflict resolution project in Central Darfur. They bring people from conflicting groups together such as pastoralists, displaced people and host communities and helping to improve their access to water, land and pasture through an inclusive and equitable process that is informed by Islamic principles.

For more information, visit the Islamic Relief website.

Muslim Aid

Muslim Aid’s Sudan country office was established in 1991 in response to the ongoing needs of the Sudanese people living through conflict and the effects of drought. Our office is based in Khartoum and delivers emergency response and strategic aid programmes. In the last few years, Muslim Aid has worked with Sudanese and refugee communities toward a better future for Sudan, including education, healthcare programmes, economic empowerment, water and sanitation, and child sponsorship.

For more information or to donate, visit the Muslim Aid website.

Qatar Charity (QC)

QC began projects in Sudan in the early 1990s in partnership with local organisations. In 1994, QC registered and opened its of centre/office in Khartoum to contribute to sustainable development, provide support to the poor and relief to the distressed. The of centre is one of the organisation’s oldest and most prominent of centres and Sudan is second only to Palestine in terms of funding. Throughout the years, QC has built clinics, hospitals, schools and more in Sudan. It has also provided educational, healthcare/medical, hygienic/sanitation and other necessary supplies to the vulnerable in Sudan.

For more information or to donate, visit QC’s website.

Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD)

Though the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the State of Qatar has intensified development efforts in the brotherly Sudan, where it has begun to build destroyed villages, homes and schools in order to restore normal life.

For more information or to donate, visit the QFFD website.

Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS)

QRCS has been working in Sudan since 2000, through its partners, mainly the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS). The workload grew steadily until a QRCS office was opened in Khartoum in 2007. Since the establishment of the head office in Khartoum and district chapters, QRCS has actively implemented numerous long-term development and emergency humanitarian programs, with the significant result of better living conditions in many states, including Khartoum, Gezira, Sennar, Kassala, White Nile, South Kordofan, River Nile and Darfur. QRCS’s fields of work in Sudan include water and sanitation, food security, livelihoods, emergency relief, building peace and social harmony, healthcare, childcare, and shelter. Their partners in Sudan include Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS), Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), Al-Basar International Foundation, Qatar’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf), and Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD).

Contact: +249 912 302 114, missions@qrcs.org.qa

For more information, visit the QRCS website.