The Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) is taking on an increasingly important role in financing humanitarian assistance amid significant reductions in international aid. Drawing on interviews with Sudanese organisations, humanitarian financing data and recent policy developments, the analysis examines the Fund’s progress towards localisation, particularly the barriers that continue to limit local and national organisations’ access to direct funding and meaningful participation in funding decisions.

Reforms introduced in 2026 have placed greater emphasis on national NGOs, institutional capacity and Sudanese representation in the Fund’s governance. However, meaningful localisation requires broader access to direct and longer-term financing, more equitable decision-making and stronger support for smaller and women-led organisations. The growing role of NGO-led funding mechanisms also presents opportunities for greater coordination with the SHF, potentially strengthening Sudanese leadership and creating a more inclusive and sustainable approach to humanitarian financing.

Read the full report The Sudan Humanitarian Fund: A Pooled Fund in Transition.