Lena Mahgoub

Sudanese citizens are calling for sustainable development – a development that is inclusive, ensures the alleviation of poverty and does not lead to exasperated and marginalized populations taking up arms in order to be heard.

The positive role that development can play in peacebuilding is what brought the UN Global Compact to the Sudan in 2006, and has since led to extensive work on the ground to establish a Global Compact Local Network. Despite numerous challenges arising from the complex situation in the Sudan, we strongly believe that a local network will provide a much-needed practical and neutral platform to bring all actors together to explore how business can make a positive contribution to sustainable development and conflict mitigation in the country.

Country at a crossroads

The Sudan, the largest country in Africa, has long been and remains a country in conflict. Since its independence in 1956, the Sudan has suffered from the longest civil war in Africa with only intermittent and short truce/negotiation periods. As the protracted north-south civil war was finally reaching a resolution, the “worst humanitarian crisis” as described by the United Nations was unfolding in the West in Darfur, much to the dismay of many who had hoped to see an end to conflict in the country. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in May 2005 after three years of extensive negotiations left other disgruntled groups in different parts of the country feeling the need for a comprehensive peace agreement of their own.

The Sudan is at a crossroads: it has vast potential for becoming a success story or remaining in a continued state of crisis management for years to come. According to the 2008 Failed States Index published by The Fund for Peace, the Sudan was ranked the world’s second most unstable country, whilst simultaneously is one of the top 20 fastest growing economies in the world, chiefly due to oil revenues. The economic dividends of peace are, without doubt, great.

Whether it is internationally recognized or not, the Sudan is surely at a turning point. The Government is under pressure by the international community to achieve order by ending the Darfur crisis and seeing the CPA through. This has created a favourable opportunity for many to bring about development through encouraging investment and sharing best practices. Now, the Sudan needs to illustrate to the international community that secure investment in the country is possible.

Although the responsibility for peace and development lies primarily with the Sudanese government, the private sector is undeniably able to contribute too, mainly by running responsible and profitable businesses. Of course, “good behaviour” can be far from a simple task for businesses given the broader environment in which they operate in the Sudan.

A real change and improvement to that operating environment is only achieved through the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders. A true partnership is needed – one where the Government is on board as a prime owner and supporter, joined by civil society organizations, community-based organizations, the United Nations, business and academia. Only then can real attempts at progress be made.

The United Nations Global Compact provides this much-needed neutral forum that can convene all stakeholders to identify priorities, address issues and seek solutions. When such a platform is in place, it can be a powerful force for change and an effective tool for delivering effective, practical solutions.

A complex undertaking

Efforts to launch a Global Compact network in the Sudan have been building steadily since mid-2006, but it has proven to be a complex task and a network has yet to be formalized. It is now beyond doubt that such efforts have been mainly positive and promising. The uniqueness of such a forum is recognized by all. However, there have been numerous challenges and obstacles.

The issue of trust is at the forefront. Despite the fact that the network is designed to be a vehicle to realize the common vision for a better Sudan, a main obstacle has been suspicion of who will “own” the network and what the “true” agenda will be. Questions have included: will it be Sudanese-owned, is it UN-driven with a hidden agenda, and will it just eventually be a regulatory organ?

Such issues of mistrust between different stakeholders are not unexpected in the midst of such a fragmented and complex scenario in the Sudan. However, it has meant that more time and effort is spent in relaying the fact that engagement in the Global Compact Local Network is voluntary and will be driven by Sudanese constituents working for the common interest, not by individual agendas of different stakeholders.

Another time consuming task has been the work to continuously engage with different Government representatives, since in the Sudan the “blessing” of one governmental institution need not mean the agreement of others. Simultaneously, a lack of information sharing among constituents has made progress a challenge.

Ultimately, we have been able to successfully engage with stakeholders representing the business sector (national and international), the government, civil society organizations and academia. The official launch of the network that had been planned for July 2008 unfortunately coincided with an increased tension between the Government, the UN and the international community in relation to decisions made by the International Criminal Court on Darfur.

Accordingly, various stakeholders preparing for the network launch determined that the timing was no longer suitable, as the initiative is closely linked to the United Nations. Additionally, the UN stepped up its security measures and the time was not opportune, considering the unpredictable response on the ground during that time period.

Sudanese business embracing the Compact

Nevertheless, it is a great achievement that in these early stages a number of Sudanese businesses have welcomed the initiative and joined the Global Compact. To date, nearly 20 participants from the Sudan – across stakeholder groups – are on board. Among the signatories is the Sudanese Businessmen and Employers Federation which is home to thousands of local businesses of all sizes. Also, prominent Sudanese companies representing various sectors have joined the initiative individually. Finally, some international companies and their subsidiaries in the Sudan have made critical efforts to promote the establishment of a local network, as well as shown commitment to being a force for good within the Sudan. Overall, this active and growing participation suggests that our potential for outreach is significant.

Another positive achievement is a conference on corporate social responsibility which was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance and other government bodies on 27 August 2008. During the meeting, a presentation on the Global Compact was made to an audience of 200 participants representing different sectors.

Numerous meetings have been taking place to ensure continuity and progress. It is realistic to say that only a few more negotiations with a number of key stakeholders remain before we can again attempt to formally launch a Global Compact Local Network in the Sudan, hopefully before the end of 2008. It is no longer a question of when the time is right in such a changeable environment, but it is about when there is the right opportunity.

(Since the writing of this article, the launch of a Global Compact Local Network has been scheduled for 1 December 2008 in Khartoum.)


Lena Mahgoub has always had a passion for development and corporate social responsibility. She holds a master’s degree in Development Studies from the University of Manchester. Having worked for Ahfad University for Women, CARE International and the Shell Company of the Sudan Ltd., she is a firm believer that partnerships between stakeholders can effectively help meet development goals. Since May 2008, Lena has served as the UN Global Compact’s adviser on Sudan.