The Sudanese government has announced the launching of Sudan Water Sector Livelihoods Transforming Strategy (2021 – 2031) which aims at boosting food security for more than 7 million citizens in the rural areas, livelihoods, providing job opportunities for about 2 million citizens and easy access of drinking water to all Sudanese with affordable prices.
We believe that the following up and implementation of this strategy should be one of the top priorities of the various political, civil and media institutions considering that this critical sector has been neglected in the past three decades.
According to the Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Prof. Yassir Abbas, the strategy will lead to eradicating hunger and poverty, enhancing food security and livelihoods; creating dignified job opportunities, particularly for the rural youth and women; peace and domestic tranquility.
The Strategy will move from Vision to Impact in the decade 2021 – 2031 through the following three complementary transformative plans:
- The National Water Resources Management Transformation Plan (NWRM-TP)
- The National Irrigation Transformation Plan (NITP)
- The National Water Supply Transformation Plan (NWS-TP)
Employing these three transformative components of the plans as a vehicle, the Sudan Water Sector Livelihoods Transforming Strategy promises four impacts by 2031:
- A functional water resources management system with the necessary instruments and capacities to close disparities and inequalities within Sudan and facilitate harmony with its neighbors.
- All Sudanese people in rural and urban areas, including nomadic communities and their livestock, have improved access to adequate, affordable and safe water supply.
- Some seven million Sudanese farming and herding community members are food secure and enjoy better livelihoods.
- Dignified and rewarding employment opportunities for about two million Sudanese, particularly rural youth and women are made available.
Twenty to thirty per cent of these achievements are set as a milestone for the end of the 2023 Transition Period.
By launching this strategy, Sudan is now on the right track through utilizing its water resources to the maximum.
To make this strategy a success all official and popular institutions should work jointly, besides our need to Cultural Revolution to promote the appropriate dealing with water in general.
Let us step forward in building our new Sudan based on the rights and obligations principles, considering that the access to potable water is considered one of the dearest rights for safety and healthy life.
We should preserve our available water resources to open the door wide for achieving sustainable development.
