SUD, UNFPA, Responding to Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
The project aims to improve the safety, dignity, and recovery of women, girls, and vulnerable populations affected by Gender-Based Violence in Sudan. It focuses on delivering lifesaving GBV and health services while strengthening prevention, risk mitigation, and social norms change in a highly fragile and conflict-affected context. The project is also highly relevant given the scale of protection risks, displacement, and limited access to essential services, particularly for women and girls.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sudan |
Gender Equality Emergency Relief and Protection Health
Sexual & gender-based violence
Protection, access & security Mental health & well-being |
01.08.2026
- 01.08.2029 |
CHF 3’050’000
|
- Increased access to quality life-saving and essential sexual and gender-based violence and health services for women and girls.
- Increased localized and sustainable sexual and gender-based violence prevention and risk mitigation measures.
- Strengthened community-based prevention of GBV and harmful practices through empowered midwives and inclusive social norms change initiatives.
- Risk-informed, mobile, and community-based GBV and MHPSS services are strengthened and delivered in displacement and returnee settings.
- National and subnational GBV coordination and information management systems are strengthened to ensure ethical data management, improved service coordination, and evidence-informed prevention and social norms programming.
- Midwives are capacitated and supported as trusted GBV prevention and referral actors.
- United Nations Population Fund
- UNFPA lead the implementation, partnering with other implementing partners such as IMC, World Vision, Alight, and PHF, alongside women-led organizations.
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
HEALTH
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Ending violence against women and girls
Material relief assistance and services
Promotion of mental health and well-being
Aid Type Project and programme contribution
Project number 7F11633
| Background | Protection concerns for women and girls have reached unprecedented levels in Sudan. In 2025, the Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) identified GBV as a life-threatening concern, and an estimated 12.1 million people were at risk of GBV. In 2026, the risk has only increased, now reaching 12.8 million people, with women and girls comprising the majority. Moreover, Sudan has been ranked the fifth highest-risk country globally for sexual exploitation and abuse, highlighting extreme vulnerability. Social norms in Sudan shape gender roles, power relations and access to services and fulfillment of rights. Deeply embedded within social patriarchal structures, they are reinforced by protracted conflict, displacement and economic instability. Conflict disrupts protective community structures, but also creates openings to shift norms as communities renegotiate roles in crisis settings or norms are spread during times of displacement. |
| Objectives | Enhanced dignity, safety, and recovery from sexual and gender-based violence of women, girls, and vulnerable populations in Sudan. |
| Target groups |
Over 300,000 direct beneficiaries, primarily women and girls, including GBV survivors, those at heightened risk of GBV, and pregnant women. Project is expected to also indirectly benefit an estimated 1.7 million people, including family members of direct beneficiaries and the wider community. |
| Medium-term outcomes |
|
| Results |
Expected results: Results from previous phases: N/A |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Project partners |
Contract partner United Nations Organization (UNO) |
| Coordination with other projects and actors |
UNFPA chairs the national SRH Working Group and state-level SRH Working Groups in 10 states, and is an active member of key humanitarian fora, including the UNCT, HCT, SMT, ICCG, Health Cluster, Protection Cluster, and the Access Working Group. UNFPA works closely with the logistics cluster across the country to store and transport supplies. UNFPA coordinates closely with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Combating Violence Against Women (CVAW) Commission, which serves on the GBV Sub-Cluster’s Strategic Advisory Committee. It also maintains coordination with HAC, MoFA, the National Medical Supplies Fund (NMSF), local authorities, and engages governors (Walis) and their offices as needed. UNFPA also leads on the GBV Area of Responsibility (AoR) which SDC contributes to funding. SDC also plans to second a GBV expert to UNFPA Sudan. |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 3’050’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 1’000’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF 0 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 3’050’000 |
| Project phases | Phase 1 01.08.2026 - 01.08.2029 (Current phase) |
