Khartoum: United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan Ms. Denise Brown, who has more than 25 years of experience in humanitarian affairs, affirmed that the country's future should not remain dependent on short-term humanitarian assistance, stressing that the private sector is the main driver of stability and sustainable development.
According to Sudan News Agency, the UN official noted that funding for the humanitarian response in Sudan amounted to $1.9 billion in 2025, while it has reached $1.2 billion so far in 2026. Although these amounts remain below actual needs, they have had a tangible impact on local markets through cash transfers and local procurement. She explained that the humanitarian impact ends as soon as funding stops, making it urgently necessary to inject long-term strategic investment.
Speaking on Monday at the launch of the Dialogue on the Recovery of Sudan's Private Sector, organized by the Ministry of Finance in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at Al-Salam Hotel in Khartoum, Ms. Brown said she had made a point of attending personally and coordinating with ministers to ensure the success of the forum. She stressed that the ultimate goal of the UN system is to reach a stage in which Sudan no longer depends on humanitarian assistance and the private sector takes the lead in driving growth.
She affirmed that the Sudanese people are not asking for free aid, but are seeking job opportunities. She noted that Sudan possesses vast natural resources and a young workforce seeking opportunities, in addition to Sudanese women who work around the clock to care for their families.
Ms. Denise Brown highlighted the heavy losses suffered by the agricultural sector, revealing that the World Food Programme (WFP) used to purchase around 400,000 tons of locally produced agricultural commodities before the outbreak of the war, whereas its purchases have now fallen to less than 50% of that level. She described this as a major disappointment and a huge loss of farmers' income, calling for urgent action to provide financing to farmers, link them to markets, and develop transport and supply chains.
Regarding the situation on the ground in the capital, the UN official said she had observed, since her arrival, that the capital is now witnessing congestion and an increasing number of citizens returning to their homes and communities.
The UN official concluded by stressing that enabling people to remain in their homes requires the foundations of sustainability that humanitarian assistance can provide only temporarily, including jobs, schools, and health services. She called for an inclusive and transparent investment environment to address challenges and risks and build a UN-investment partnership that can drive Sudan's economy forward.