Policy Updates

On April 15, 2024, at the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Its Neighbors in Paris, France, the Netherlands announced a EUR10 million (US$11 million) contribution to support food assistance in Sudan through the WFP.

Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher emphasized the dire situation in Sudan, where 18 million people face acute hunger. Since the outbreak of war on April 15, 2023, warring parties have obstructed emergency assistance. At the time of the announcement, 8 million Sudanese were internally displaced, and 2 million have fled to neighboring countries.

The recent pledge supplements the Netherlands’ annual support of EUR55 million (US$60 million) to the UN CERF, which has allocated EUR35 million (US$38 million) annually for support to Sudan. The Netherlands has supported the reception of Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries as well as EU negotiations for a ceasefire and sanctions against warring parties.

On December 1, 2023, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a commitment of EUR150 million (US$164 million) to IFAD’s 13^th replenishment.

The funds are meant to help IFAD double its impact on smallholder productivity, income, and resilience.

Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher stressed that the threat that climate change poses to global food production and emphasized that small-scale farmers need international investment to effectively adapt to the impacts of climate change.