Norway will host the Sudan Consortium in Oslo from 5 to 7 May. The conference will review progress on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Sudan, and generate donor pledges to support the further reconstruction and development in Sudan.
30/04/2008 ::
In April 2005 Norway hosted the first international donor conference on Sudan, after the signing of the CPA between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in January 2005.
– We are very pleased to again be able to host an international donor conference to support peace and development in Sudan, says Norway’s Minister of the Environment and International Development, Mr Erik Solheim.
– This is an important opportunity for the Sudan Government of National Unity (GONU), the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and the international community to reconfirm their commitment to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, says Solheim.
The period 2005−2011 is known as the interim period of the CPA, after which the people of Sudan will vote in a referendum on whether Southern Sudan shall secede or not. In 2005 international pledges were given for 3 years, and will now be renewed for the period 2008−2011.
A committment to sustainable peace
High-level political participation is expected at the conference from Sudan and from international donors. The Sudan Consortium is jointly chaired by the Sudan Government of National Unity, the Government of Southern Sudan and the organisers, the World Bank and the United Nations. Invited participants include a broad range of international development partners.
The parties, together with the UN and the World Bank, have analysed needs for the continued development of all major development sectors in Sudan for the period 2008− 2011. Donors will be invited to pledge assistance for these sectors.
The official opening of the Sudan Consortium will be on 6 May, followed by a Pledging session on 7 May. Participants will discuss efforts towards sustainable peace in Darfur in a closed doors session on the first pre-meeting day of the Consortium.