Sudan National Durable Solutions Working Group

Durable solutions are integral to the 2030 Agenda and essential for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the global commitment to Leave No One Behind. In Sudan, this commitment is more urgent than ever amid the ongoing conflict, which has triggered one of the largest displacement crises globally. 

While humanitarian assistance remains vital, it is not sufficient to meet the scale of needs. A sustainable pathway forward requires a long-term investment in recovery and resilience. Durable solutions – focused on voluntary, safe, and dignified return, local integration, or resettlement – are critical to restoring lives, stabilizing communities, and supporting national recovery efforts. 

To that end, Sudan adopted a Five-Year National Strategy on Durable Solutions in 2023 for IDPs, returnees, refugees, and host communities. The strategy offers a framework for coordinated action by government, humanitarian, development, peace, and stabilization actors, and aligns with the UN Common Approach and Priorities 2024. Furthermore, the National Plan for the Protection of Civilians (NPPOC) remains a key reference for advancing solutions, protection, and longer-term recovery, depending on evolving conditions on the ground. 

The Durable Solutions Working Group (DSWG), co-chaired by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) and Humanitarian Country Team / United Nations Country Team (HCT/UNCT), plays a central role in guiding coordination, technical dialogue, and area-based planning. State-level DSWGs have been reactivated in Kassala, Gedaref, White Nile and Blue Nile to localize coordination, support joint return monitoring, and align programming around peacebuilding and resilience.

 To further strengthen the collective response, a Durable Solutions Unit (DSU) has been established under the RC/HC’s strategic guidance. The DSU enhance advisory and coordination functions and serve as a shared resource across national and sub-national levels. It supports stakeholders—including the Government, DSWG, UNCT, HCT, civil society, and international partners—on policy alignment, joint planning, and durable solutions programming. The unit also works closely with the Peace and Development Advisor in the RCO to ensure synergy with broader peacebuilding and development efforts.

The key objective of the Durable Solution Working Group in Sudan is to improve living conditions for IDPs, returnees, refugees, and hosts to meet basic needs, strengthen their resilience and enhance their ability to achieve durable solutions. The aim is to improve the well-being of displacement-affected and host populations by ensuring access to basic services, enhancing self-reliance through inclusive livelihood support, strengthening infrastructure, and promoting social cohesion, thereby enabling communities to transition from dependency to resilience and durable solutions.

At national level, the DRC, IOM, UNDP and UNCHR serve as co-chairs of the group.

At state level, the composition of membership is outlined as below:

• Ministry of Finance and Economic Development: Chair
• UNHCR: Co-Chair
• UNDP: Co-Chair
• IOM: Co-Chair
• Additional INGO as possible Co-Chair

Last updated: October 2025