April 15, 2024, marks the first anniversary of the war in Sudan. One year after the outbreak of war between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, the situation remains dire, marked by widespread displacement, violence, and humanitarian crises. Millions of people have endured airstrikes, bombings, shootings, sexual assaults, and a crackdown on civil society.

Beyond the humanitarian toll, the conflict has caused a severe blow to the hard-won democratic progress achieved by the Sudanese people in 2019. After decades of totalitarian rule, the nation embarked on a journey toward democracy. However, the eruption of war in April 2023 has tragically derailed this trajectory, plunging Sudan into a state of turmoil and uncertainty.

USAID/OTI’s STP-S and STEP-UP Sudan Programs, implemented by DT Global, supported civil society groups and prodemocracy actors through a dedicated local team and multifaceted approach, enhancing their ability to maintain space for civilian led processes.

The STEP-UP program currently works closely with frontline civic actors, including women and youth organizations. The program also equips these groups with essential tools and resources to network, coordinate, and navigate challenges to further their political aspirations. Amidst the manipulation of ethnic rhetoric for recruitment by warring factions, the program also assists civil society in sharing timely and accurate information. By promoting alternative narratives to the dividing and manipulative rhetoric, STEP-UP is working towards lasting peace and the advancement of democratic processes in Sudan.