Khartoum, June 24, 2026 (SUNA) — Finance Minister Dr. Gebreil Ibrahim has revealed the government’s upcoming plan to organise rural communities and strengthen their capacities through small-scale projects aimed at improving production efficiency in rural areas and reducing poverty, in coordination with development partners to implement economic initiatives that enhance citizens’ living standards. Speaking during a ceremony marking the handover of IFAD Country Director Rasha Omar, following the end of her tenure in Khartoum, and welcoming her successor, the Minister praised the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for its efforts in combating rural poverty, noting its strategic partnership with Sudan since 1977. He said Sudan looks forward to increased direct financing and for IFAD to play a key strategic role in mobilising funds from international institutions and donors to support agricultural recovery and rural reconstruction, while benefiting from the organisation’s expertise and international standing to advance the agricultural sector in achieving food security, job creation, and improved incomes for youth, women, vulnerable groups, and displaced persons (IDPs), as well as their reintegration into productive activities. For her part, outgoing IFAD Country Director Rasha Omar praised Sudan’s commitment as the first country to pay its contribution to IFAD’s Fourteenth Replenishment. She noted that the Fund focuses on addressing the root challenges facing rural communities by building climate resilience, managing natural resources, empowering women and youth, developing agricultural value chains, and increasing value addition to agricultural products, in addition to strengthening national food security. She also highlighted support for producer organisations and the private sector through technical assistance and limited financial support, noting IFAD’s coordination with international and regional financing institutions, as well as cooperation opportunities with Qatar’s Silatech initiative, which focuses on youth employment in rural areas and creating decent job opportunities. The new IFAD Country Director in Sudan, Zoudan, affirmed the continuation of achieving the Fund’s objectives and expanding financing opportunities for small producers to deliver better results. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Minister of Finance honoured outgoing Country Director Rasha Omar in recognition of her efforts in supporting rural communities, and also honoured the new Country Director Zoudan. The ceremony was attended by Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mohamed Ali Juma, the Director-General of External Finance, the General Coordinator of IFAD projects in Sudan and his deputy, as well as several technical staff from the Ministry of Finance.BH/BH