SUDIA and Wildlife Conservation Forces Forge Advanced 5-Year Partnership for Biodiversity and Ecological Resilience
PORT SUDAN, Sudan – December 23, 2025 – In a landmark step for Sudan’s natural heritage, the Sudanese Development Initiative (SUDIA) and the Wildlife Conservation Forces (WCF) have today signed a comprehensive five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Signed by SUDIA Executive Director and the Director General of the WCF, this agreement marks the third and most advanced iteration of a partnership that began in 2016.
A Decade of Cooperation, Evolved
This 2025–2030 MoU is not just a renewal but a significant evolution. Based on a decade of field experience, the new framework expands the scope of cooperation to integrate modern conservation standards with community-led development. It aligns directly with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the historic High Seas Treaty (BBNJ), which entered into force earlier this year to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030.
Focus on the Red Sea: Dungonab Bay
A primary geographic focus of this partnership will be the Dungonab Bay and Mukkawar Island National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. SUDIA will work alongside the WCF to:
Strengthen MPA Governance: Enhance the management effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) through innovative financing and risk assessment.
Protect Key Species: Implement monitoring programs for marine turtles and mangroves.
Empower Local Communities: Develop sustainable livelihoods for resource-dependent coastal communities to ensure they are active partners in conservation.
Strategic Institutional Alignment
The MoU establishes a "Partnership of Integrated Roles," where the WCF provides legal and security oversight while SUDIA leads technical implementation, resource mobilization, and community engagement. A Joint Coordination Committee will meet quarterly to ensure strategic alignment and accountability.
"This partnership represents SUDIA's commitment to creating dignified lives in harmony with nature," said Abdel-Rahman El-Mahdi. "By integrating the WCF’s institutional mandate over protected areas with our community-based approach, we are building a model for ecological resilience that can withstand the complex challenges Sudan faces today.".
