According to bank documents, the main development objective of the proposed project is to help farmers reduce their dependency on imported fossil fuels through the adoption of renewable energy for water supply for irrigation to foster economic and social development by increasing crop production in agricultural areas around the country and promote a peaceful environment for water resources use". Ultimately, the project will contribute to the promotion of the application of renewable energy in agriculture, improving farmers' income by increasing yields and improving livelihoods, reducing GHG emissions, fostering sustainable economic growth by using cheaper irrigation options and reducing poverty in Sudan.

The Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Powered Pumping Systems Project is a potential breakthrough for the agriculture sector in Sudan. It is being a groundwork for the Government's Solar PV policy, the renewable energy development and the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) and acts as a catalyst for the operationalization of the Solar PV Fund. Provision of solar powered water pumps to the farmers, incorporates efficiency-based model that reduces dependence on fossil fuel, improves crops production at lesser costs, and improves farmers' livelihoods. This project addresses the need for efficient and adequate energy provision for irrigation in Sudan by facilitating the replacement of diesel-powered pumping systems with innovative technologies relying fully on solar PV power. It covers two states, North Kordofan and West Kordofan. The project will play a critical role in creating a market that has not presently matured in Sudan and supporting it through the nascent stage to a point where it is self-sustaining and able to respond to the needs of the farmers. It targets to: (i) install 1,170 solar PV pumps, (ii) establish workshops, one in North Kordofan and another in West Kordofan, for maintaining, servicing and repairing solar powered pumps; and (iii) supply additional testing equipment for the solar PV pumps testing laboratory to ensure quality standards, quality assurance, testing and certification, and for training and capacity building. Construction is expected to be implemented over a period of 24 months after EPC contract effectiveness and scheduled to be completed by September 2023. The project's cost is estimated at UA 15.867 million.

WUBESHET ZEGEYE Alemayehu
a.wubeshet-zegeye@afdb.org 

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF AfDB

The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), which is administered by the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU), is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an African Development Bank (AfDB)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the IRM, it may assist you by either seeking to address your problems by facilitating a dispute resolution dialogue between you and those implementing the project and/or investigating whether the AfDB complied with its policies to prevent environmental and social harms. You can submit a complaint electronically by emailing crmuinfo@afdb.org, b.kargougou@afdb.org, b.fall@afdb.org, and/or s.toure@afdb.org. You can learn more about the IRM and how to file a complaint at https://www.afdb.org/en/independent-review-mechanism/