On the occasion of Europe Day on 9 May, the EU Delegation in Sudan invited UNEP and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to commemorate joint development projects funded by the EU in the country.

The EU is providing €3.4 million for a project implemented by UNEP, the Darfur Development and Reconstruction Agency and SOS Sahel in West Kordofan, West and Central Darfur. The project aims to improve local and state capacity to resolve conflict over resources and to manage natural resources for peace and sustainable development in selected areas of Kordofan and Darfur.

Communities will benefit from better access to and management of essential resources and related services. Grievances over natural resources between different user groups, as well as addressing gender equity gaps, will be addressed through dialogue, discussion and agreed dispute resolution processes.

“Given that the people of Darfur and Kordofan rely heavily on the environment to meet their basic needs, we believe this project will enable communities to resolve disputes over environmental resources through better management of their water, land and trees” said Mr. Bradley Smith, Head of UNEP’s Office in Sudan.

The Head of the EU Delegation in the country, Ambassador Tomas Ulicny, underlined that "the new projects reflect the commitment of the European Union to the peaceful future of communities in Sudan. This will be achieved by improving sustainable development through better management of natural resources and access to land," he underlined.

For more information on UNEP’s work in Sudan, please click here or write to sophie.brown@unep.org