KHARTOUM, July 23, 2026 (SUNA) – The Social Security, Solidarity and Poverty Reduction Commission (SSPR) participated on Wednesday in the virtual launch of the 2023 Sudan Multidimensional Poverty Survey Report, chaired by the Commission’s Commissioner, Dr. Mohamed Ali Salem. The event was attended by the Director General of Planning and Policy, Manal Sheikh El-Din, representatives of the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and a number of national and international experts and partners. Commissioner Mohamed Ali Salem said the survey findings constitute an important national reference for developing social protection policies and programs. He stressed that accurate data has become the cornerstone of effective resource allocation, equitable targeting of the most vulnerable groups, and strengthening the state’s efforts to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. During the event, the Central Bureau of Statistics presented the survey’s key findings, describing the report as a national achievement resulting from collaboration with development partners and noting that it provides a reliable database to support evidence-based policymaking and planning. The Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) outlined its technical and methodological support for applying the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) in line with international standards, while the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Sudan’s statistical capacity and strengthening the production of development data. Manal Sheikh El-Din, Director General of Planning and Policy at the Commission, said the report marks the beginning of a new phase of evidence-based planning. She emphasized the need for an integrated approach that combines social protection, economic empowerment, and improved basic services rather than relying solely on cash assistance. She added that the survey findings underscore the need to target interventions based on poverty maps, prioritize children, vulnerable families, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and persons with disabilities, regularly update data to reflect changing conditions, and use the findings to strengthen the unified social registry and better link social assistance programs with economic empowerment initiatives.At the conclusion of the event, the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Central Bureau of Statistics, OPHI, UNDP, and other partners, emphasizing that the next phase should focus on moving beyond measuring poverty to managing and reducing it through data-driven policies and effective partnerships.BH/BH