UNITAR Unveils Sudan Aid Program for Socioeconomic Stability

• UNITAR welcomed 300 Sudanese learners to the "Rapid Assistance for Sudan: Promoting Socioeconomic Stability through Institutional Capacity and Livelihood Development" training programme.
• The programme aims to equip learners with digital and entrepreneurial skills, and climate-resilient business practices, with a focus on building micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in agribusiness and innovation to address food insecurity and poverty.
• This programme is implemented with the generous support of the Government and People of Japan.

21 October 2024, Geneva - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is running the emergency training programme "Rapid Assistance for Sudan: Promoting Socioeconomic Stability through Institutional Capacity and Livelihood Development". This initiative aims to address the ongoing humanitarian and economic crises in Sudan by equipping displaced populations with market-relevant skills and promoting entrepreneurship to stimulate economic recovery.

Funded by the Government and People of Japan, the programme will equip 300 motivated Sudanese nationals - particularly internally displaced persons and Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries - with essential digital and entrepreneurial skills to foster economic stability. It launched in August 2024 and will run until February 2025.

For years, Sudan has faced severe economic disruptions, exacerbated by the humanitarian crisis that began in April 2023. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over five million Sudanese have lost their jobs and livelihoods, regardless of their educational background. Former Sudanese finance minister Ibrahim al-Badawi projects a 20 per cent decline in Sudan's GDP in 2023, with household incomes expected to drop by over 40 per cent.

The vocational training sector in Sudan is struggling to meet the needs of displaced populations. The Japan International Cooperation Agency reports that national unemployment stands at nearly 19 per cent, with youth unemployment rates reaching 34 per cent, and more than 70 per cent for young women in urban areas.

These figures highlight the urgent need for vocational training programmes that align with current labour-market demands and empower vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth.

Through the programme, offered in both Arabic and English, participants will gain skills in digital literacy, entrepreneurship and climate-resilient business practices, with a focus on building micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in agribusiness and innovation to address food insecurity and poverty.

The training programme will be delivered in three phases:

• Phase I: Resilient Growth for Prosperous Futures (September 2024 to February 2025)- A comprehensive online training on entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital skills, including lessons from Hiroshima's post-World War II reconstruction.
• Phase II: The Resilient Squad (March 2025) - A one-week online boot camp followed by a two-day virtual hackathon. The top 20 participants will move on to Phase III.
• Phase III: Resilient Futures for Peace and Prosperity (March 2025) - A virtual conference where participants will present their project proposals for evaluation.

This programme aims to inspire participants to "build back better" by fostering sustainable business ideas that address pressing challenges such as unemployment, food insecurity and social inequality.

Empowering Women and Youth

UNITAR strongly emphasizes inclusivity, particularly in encouraging women's participation. Empowering women is crucial for rebuilding and strengthening communities. Despite challenges like unstable internet connectivity, the women participants have already demonstrated leadership by organizing webinars, leading discussions and contributing to the programme's success.

Challenges and Opportunities

Though enthusiasm for the programme has been high, participation from conflict-affected regions remains limited. Ongoing violence and instability have prevented some individuals from accessing the training, particularly those in heavily affected states. To mitigate these challenges, the programme has utilized low-bandwidth solutions and in-person coaching to make it more accessible, despite technological and logistical barriers.

Participants will gain lifetime access to UNITAR's global alumni network, which provides ongoing mentorship, learning opportunities and networking through a dedicated digital hub. The programme seeks not only to contribute to the socioeconomic recovery of Sudan but also to foster peace and prosperity in the region through skills development and entrepreneurship.

Prof. Mohamed Tagelsir, one of the programme's subject matter experts and a leading Sudanese expert on SME development who has previously led capacity development services for JICA, UNDP, and Save the Children, commended the initiative's emphasis on digital literacy and entrepreneurship. He highlighted the significant contributions of the women participants, noting their active involvement in organizing webinars and leading discussions.

"The participant-led webinars have greatly enhanced skills such as online etiquette, time management, and digital communication," said Prof. Tagelsir. "Despite challenges with internet access, the level of engagement has been inspiring, and we are optimistic about the programme's long-term impact."