Policy Paper: Reconstruction and Development in Sudan

This paper addresses road infrastructure reconstruction policies in Sudan, based on the Infrastructure-Led Development model/theory. The paper highlights the importance of roads in connecting different regions of Sudan and promoting economic and social integration, especially given the absence of strategic infrastructure planning over the past decades. The paper asserts that Sudan's paved road network, which currently extends only about 8,000 kilometers out of a total of more than 31,000 kilometers of roads, suffers from deterioration and lack of maintenance, which increases transportation costs and limits access to markets and services, particularly in peripheral areas. Historical experiences, also demonstrate weak prior planning and a focus on immediate response rather than strategic vision. The paper clarifies that investment in roads can be a strong economic catalyst by reducing transportation costs, creating direct and indirect job opportunities, and stimulating local production. Roads can also open up prospects for regional development by transforming Sudan's geographical location into a strategic advantage that connects it with neighboring countries, especially landlocked nations such as Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. The paper sheds light on the positive social impact of road construction in strengthening community communication, reinforcing state authority, and fostering common interests among different communities, thereby contributing to building trust and sustainable peace. Regarding financing, the paper proposes a blend of sources: governmental, foreign investment, and public-private partnerships, while targeting different roads according to their objectives (economic, regional, or social). It calls for channeling funding from international institutions, such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank, to support roads with a regional dimension. The paper concludes with practical recommendations focusing on strategic planning, improving design and maintenance, and linking roads to resources and markets, ensuring that roads are transformed into an effective tool for economic and social development and peacebuilding in Sudan.