Participants at the Oslo Donors’ Conference on Sudan pledged a total of more than USD 4.5 billion for 2005-2007 for Sudan, far exceeding the estimated needs.

Of this, approximately USD 2 billion is development assistance in response to the needs documented in the report of the Joint Assessment Mission (JAM), done by the Sudanese parties, the United Nations and the World Bank.

“I am very pleased with the amount that has been pledged. This demonstrates that the concern for Sudan is truly international,” says International Development Minister Hilde F. Johnson.

Representatives of more than 60 countries and international organisations met in Oslo on April 11 and 12 to demonstrate broad international support for the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) signed in Nairobi on January 9 2005.

“Darfur must not become an excuse for hesitant or piecemeal support for the recovery of the rest of Sudan – any more than sustaining the peace in the south can be an excuse for failing to rescue the people of Darfur”, said Secretary General Kofi Annan of the United Nations when addressing the conference.

Out of the USD 4.5 billion, USD 500 million was committed to the Multi Donor Trust Funds (MDTF), to be administered by the World Bank. “The commitments made to the two Multi-Donor Trust Funds are central both to cement the peace and promote pro-poor development in Sudan, especially as the Multi-Donor Trust Funds reflect the principles of harmonization, alignment and managing for results set out in the 2005 Paris declaration on aid effectiveness”, World Bank Country Director for Sudan, Ishac Diwan says.

Press contact: Espen Gullikstad, Head of information. Tel: 91 70 81 22