Towards Advancing Sustainable Development in Sudan

By: Mohamed Siddig, Assistant to the Ambassador for Media Affairs

This article was prepared to explore different visions, approaches, models, and tools aimed at achieving environmental sustainability within the framework of sustainable development and poverty eradication in Sudan. It is based on the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, “The Future We Want.” It provides a brief explanation of the concept of sustainable development, its goals, and its relevance to Sudan's current situation.

The scarcity of economic resources, political instability, food insecurity, and the unfair distribution of national wealth all point to the urgent need for a fundamental transformation in our society. To confront these challenges, the United Nations Environment Assembly, comprising 193 member states, adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development along with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These aim to stimulate action over the next 15 years to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all. The United Nations supports countries in the “third classification” by building infrastructure, addressing core challenges, and tracking progress.

The term "sustainable development" first appeared in a 1980 publication by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but it only gained widespread use after being reintroduced in the 1987 report Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland Report, issued by the UN’s World Commission on Environment and Development under the leadership of then Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland. The report defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This definition emphasizes two key ideas: the concept of “needs,” especially the essential needs of the world’s poorest; and the idea of environmental limitations in meeting current and future human needs, given prevailing production and consumption patterns and technologies.

The 17 SDGs build on the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (2000–2015), while expanding into new areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, peace, and justice. These goals are interconnected—progress in one often depends on addressing issues in others. The SDGs require a spirit of partnership and practical action to make the right choices today for a better future. They provide a universal set of targets and principles to be tailored by each country in alignment with its own priorities and the global environmental challenges.
The SDGs offer a comprehensive agenda. They address the root causes of poverty and unite efforts to create positive change for both people and the planet. As Helen Clark, former UNDP Administrator, stated: “Supporting the 2030 Agenda is a top priority for UNDP,” adding that “the SDGs offer us a shared plan and roadmap to tackle urgent challenges like poverty, climate change, and conflict.”

Developing effective strategies to translate the 17 goals and 169 indicators into measurable results is a complex challenge. For success, stakeholders must provide a clear framework to guide implementation, monitor outcomes, and evaluate progress. Measuring the advancement of the SDGs requires well-defined indicators that serve as tools for assessment and early identification of issues threatening progress.

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has proposed a framework of 100 global monitoring indicators to turn the goals into actionable, data-driven management tools and final reporting metrics. The study also identifies complementary national indicators that each country can adapt based on its context, environmental conditions, and implementation capacity.

A key reference for sustainable development indicators in Sudan is a study by Dr. Abdelrahman Mohamed Al-Hassan of Bakht Al-Ruda University. This study focused on several health and environmental indicators in Sudan, examining metrics such as GDP per capita, life expectancy at birth, infant and under-five mortality rates, access to safe drinking water, and access to sanitation services. The study emphasized how these indicators align with modern development priorities.

It analyzed Sudan’s position regarding these indicators and the progress made - if any - highlighting the UN’s acknowledgment that sustainable development must balance economic, social, and environmental advancement while ensuring equity. The study aimed to identify Sudan’s most vulnerable health and environmental indicators and compare them with those in neighboring countries. It concluded that strengthening these indicators is essential for citizens to contribute effectively to national development.

“Throw a seed in Sudan and it will grow into a tree”- this old saying reflects the country’s vast untapped potential. Yet, despite its wealth of resources, Sudan remains dependent on food imports and is ranked among the poorest nations. This raises a pressing question: Why is Sudan in this condition?
Many experts point to factors such as political instability, the lack of a clear economic strategy, and inconsistent economic management. During just one decade under former President Jaafar Nimeiri (ending in the mid-1980s), Sudan shifted between three economic models: capitalism, socialism, and an Islamic model—all while relying solely on non-oil resources. According to Tijani El-Tayeb, a former Minister of Finance and IMF expert, Sudan’s development challenges are partly due to investment policies that favor the service sector. This has led to the migration of labor away from agriculture and industry, worsening unemployment and poverty.

In today’s context, there is increasing hope that Sudan can change its course and advance the SDGs under its new political system. The SDGs should be adopted as a roadmap to achieve near-term growth and redefine the quality and inclusivity of economic development - going beyond mere economic expansion to reduce income disparities. Sustainable development presents itself as a practical framework for addressing humanity’s complex challenges. It facilitates risk assessment, awareness-raising, and economic guidance at local, regional, and global levels.

Various studies and experiences have shown that capital is one of the most crucial elements for development, alongside other key factors. Importantly, economic development has a strong societal dimension in both developed and developing countries. All nations strive for consistent growth to achieve long-term goals like full employment, without inflation or recession. Development aims to boost real national income, reduce unemployment, and improve citizens’ quality of life through better health, education, and social standards, enabling individuals to contribute meaningfully to their country’s progress.

Development entails a fundamental transformation of economic and social structures to eliminate underdevelopment and poverty, ensure equitable access to national resources, provide social safety nets, and deliver healthcare. It involves a clear vision of economic development objectives and the policies needed to achieve them. Accelerating economic development is vital for both rich and poor countries alike. Wealthy nations must sustain growth to avoid prolonged stagnation, while poorer nations see development as a necessary path to counter extremism and dependence. The UN notes that social factors are major triggers of conflict. Therefore, development strategies must promote fair income and wealth distribution to prevent instability—this is the very essence of economic development.

Economic development goals include increasing national income, improving living standards, and reducing internal disparities. This often involves restructuring the economy in favor of industry and trade. These goals address core issues facing poor economies, such as overreliance on primary commodities (some of which are exhaustible), population pressures, high birth rates, and underdeveloped natural resources due to low investment—particularly in infrastructure. Capital shortages due to low savings, unfavorable trade terms, and vulnerability to global economic cycles further exacerbate these challenges. Additionally, these countries suffer from low personal income, labor market imbalances, weak productivity, administrative corruption, lack of transparency, distorted market mechanisms, monopolies, and authoritarianism.

Moreover, some resource-rich countries with unique geographic and cultural legacies remain poor due to corruption, tyranny, and the alliance of unproductive capital with money launderers, smugglers, and tax evaders. To achieve development goals, countries must adopt comprehensive policies. Economists agree that a supportive environment for economic activity is the result of sound financial, monetary, and debt management policies—cornerstones of sustained, genuine economic growth.