Country context (P3 lens)

Sudan is a low-income country in Northeast Africa with a nascent P3 market. P3s are used to mobilize private capital, accelerate infrastructure delivery, and transfer operational risk, primarily in transport, energy, water, and social infrastructure. Due to political, economic, and institutional challenges, P3 activity is limited and often relies on regional and international development partners, donor support, and guarantees.

Verified sources: World Bank PPP Knowledge Lab, Sudan Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, African Development Bank (AfDB), IMF, UNDP.

Economic and infrastructure conditions

• Economy: Resource-driven (oil, agriculture), with services and trade; infrastructure investment focuses on connectivity, energy access, and essential social services.

• Infrastructure priorities:

  • Roads, bridges, and transport networks

  • Ports and airport facilities

  • Electricity generation and distribution (thermal, hydro, and small-scale renewable projects)

  • Water supply, sanitation, and wastewater management

  • Schools, hospitals, and municipal infrastructure

• Private sector: Very limited domestic investor base; larger P3 projects require regional or international investors and multilateral support.

Public Private Partnerships framework

Legal and institutional setup

• P3 activity is currently ad hoc, with no fully operational national PPP law or unit; frameworks are being developed with donor support.

• Project approval typically requires feasibility studies, donor endorsement, and risk assessment.

• Potential P3 structures include:

  • Concessions for roads, ports, and airports

  • Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) for energy and utilities

  • Availability-payment contracts for social infrastructure where feasible

Market characteristics

• The P3 market is nascent and donor-dependent due to institutional and political constraints.

• Financing structures include blended finance, availability payments, revenue-sharing, and guarantees from development partners.

• Investors include regional private companies, international development institutions, and donor agencies.

Sector experience and opportunities

Transport

• Roads, bridges, and airport upgrades are potential P3 opportunities, mostly supported by donor or multilateral guarantees.

Energy and utilities

• Small-scale renewable and thermal electricity projects under BOT or concession arrangements.

• Water and sanitation projects are primarily donor- or NGO-led but could adopt P3 structures.

Social infrastructure

• Schools, hospitals, and municipal facilities delivered through donor-backed or availability-payment P3s, where institutional capacity allows.

Key P3 considerations

• Scale and market depth: Limited domestic investors; international and regional partners are essential.

• Project preparation: Strong emphasis on feasibility, risk assessment, and donor coordination.

• Risk allocation: Construction, operational, and maintenance risks are often supported or underwritten by donors; regulatory risk is significant.

• Institutional capacity: Limited government capacity; external advisory and donor support is essential for project design and monitoring.

Outlook

Sudan is a nascent P3 market with opportunities in transport, energy, water, and social infrastructure, but activity is constrained by political, institutional, and economic challenges:

• Focus sectors: roads, bridges, ports, airports, energy, water, and social infrastructure

• Projects are generally small- to medium-scale, donor- or multilateral-supported, and require structured risk mitigation

• Institutional frameworks are emerging, with P3s dependent on regional and international partnerships

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Website of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.