The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have signed a new bilateral funding and implementation agreement to launch the Sudan Health Emergency Infrastructure Project (SHEIP). The project is a three-year initiative aimed at restoring and strengthening Sudan’s devastated health system. The agreement, signed on November 3, 2025, is one of the most important health recovery efforts since conflict erupted in Sudan more than two years ago.
SHEIP aims to expand access to quality health services, strengthen emergency preparedness and response, and help rebuild the country’s shattered health infrastructure. The project will support WHO in restoring essential health functions while strengthening long-term system resilience. This is a two-pronged approach that is critical for a country still grappling with instability, mass displacement, and widespread humanitarian needs.
Health system in crisis
Sudan’s latest Health Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) report reveals a grim picture:
Only 48% of health facilities are fully functional
12% are partially functional
40% are dysfunctional
The collapse has left millions of Sudanese with severely limited access to health services such as maternal care, childhood immunizations, emergency surgery and treatment for chronic diseases.
Through SHEIP, WHO and AfDB aim to quickly restore essential services and expand access to health care for at least 6 million people, including 3 million women and 1.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). The ultimate goal is to protect people’s fundamental right to health, save lives, and restore dignity in communities affected by protracted conflict.
Strengthening emergency response and supporting early recovery
During the past two-and-a-half years of conflict, WHO has led the response to health emergencies in Sudan, providing life-saving medical supplies, operating mobile clinics, supporting vaccination campaigns, and maintaining emergency health services under extremely difficult circumstances.
Now, as stability is returning to some regions, organizations are moving towards early recovery, repairing damaged infrastructure and helping communities rebuild.
“With stability returning to parts of Sudan, the time has come for parallel response and recovery efforts, and we are committed to doing so with the support of our partner the African Development Bank,” said Sibur Sabani, WHO Representative in Sudan.
AfDB officials also emphasized the urgency of this mission.
“WHO’s proven expertise in managing complex health emergencies gives us confidence that this project can be implemented effectively, supporting early recovery and building resilience in the face of ongoing challenges,” said Alex Mubiru, AfDB Regional Director for East Africa.
What SHEIP delivers: Rebuild, Re-Equip and Restore Care.
Under the new partnership, WHO will undertake a wide range of activities to improve access to and delivery of essential health care. These include:
1. Repair of health facilities and infrastructure
Repairing damaged clinics, hospitals and primary health centers
Installation of essential medical equipment and diagnostic tools
Restore infrastructure for maternal and newborn services
Ensuring access to water, sanitation and electricity in health facilities
2. Re-equipping primary health care providers
Providing a minimal package of conflict-sensitive health and nutrition services
Supply of essential medicines and medical consumables
Ensure health care workers are trained in emergency medicine, case management, and safe childbirth practices
Strengthening infection prevention and control systems, including medical waste management
3. Strengthening emergency preparedness and response
Strengthening disease surveillance and early warning systems
Training rapid response teams to respond to outbreaks, trauma, and mass casualties
Improving collaboration between state-level health authorities and national partners
We will strengthen our logistics system and deliver supplies in a timely manner.
Target the most vulnerable areas
SHEIP will prioritize areas most affected by conflict and where health services have largely collapsed. This includes:
White Nile State — a state with a large number of internally displaced persons
Greater Kordofan region — characterized by destroyed medical facilities and repeated clashes
Darfur — Years of violence have left communities dependent on humanitarian aid
Parts of Khartoum — areas with major infrastructure damage
“This project is about reaching those most in need. By focusing on areas such as the White Nile, Kordofan, Darfur and parts of Khartoum, we hope to restore vital health services to communities that have endured years of hardship,” said Peter Ogwang, Chief Health Analyst at the African Development Bank.
Foundations of long-term health system resilience
Beyond emergency recovery, the SHEIP initiative aims to build more resilient, equitable, and shock-capable health systems that can protect communities from future crises. This includes:
Modernizing public health infrastructure
Strengthening healthy human resources
Improving coordination between national and local authorities
Strengthening supply chains and emergency stockpiles
Supporting sustainable financial and governance frameworks
Rebuilding health and hope in Sudan
As Sudan continues to overcome the effects of protracted conflict, restoring the health system will play a central role in restoring stability, reducing mortality, and rebuilding trust in public institutions. The partnership between AfDB and WHO represents a vital investment not only in infrastructure and health services, but also in the dignity, resilience and future of millions of Sudanese families.
