Green Economy in the Context of Sustainable Development: Assessing the Potentials for Green Investment in Sudan (3-3)

Prepared for UNDP Platform for Development Round Table on “Potentials for Green Investment in Sudan” organized in Collaboration with the Ministry of International Cooperation (MIC) of the Republic of Sudan to be held on 16 July 2012 at Corinthia Hotel in Khartoum.

DAL is described as the largest and most diversified Sudanese conglomerate. The group is involved in a wide range of community related corporate responsibility initiatives. Most of the activities are run in partnership with communities, NGOs and governmental organizations. Examples of activities are listed below:
Dal Group
- Holding regular DAL forum events. 
- Reforestation in their farms and launched the “DAL go green” tree planting initiative.
- Promoting income generating activities for marginalized women groups.
- Land reclamation initiative in Port Sudan.
- Promoting the use of LPG in north Kaordofan
- Regular Dal environmental forum explores areas of environmental concern with particular focus on their impacts on Sudan.
- DAL food forum deals with issues of food safety
- DAL cultural forum.
- Green bakery initiative through the promotion of the use of LPG burners in place of wood
DAL recognizes that corporate responsibility is “to help business flourish long-term not to burden it.
A number of large companies and government organs and community organizations also became involved in activities considered greening the green and greening the brown. These include;

 Kenana Sugar Factory:

The company is leading in clean energy generation through co-generation. It is also leading in proper use of sugar cane residue as feed for livestock, tree planting in designated areas as forest and proper management of waste.
 White Nile Sugar Factory:
The company submitted a proposal to DNA to secure funding from CDM in efforts in bio-fuels production and clean energy generation.

Waste management and treatment:

Green Economy

Khartoum State has already embarked on Green Cities Initiative, which will cover major localities. The effort focuses in waste management and treatment which will open huge opportunities for private sector investment.
The state in conjunction with Beks Company submitted two proposals to DNA to secure funding through CDM. The first proposal is generation of Methane gas from waste in a landfill in Omdurman. The second proposal is to recycle waste to through compost to produce organic fertilizer.
 Wind, Solar Energy and Hydropower: The Ministry of Electricity and Dams has identified solar, wind and hydro power as potentials for investment.

Forest Rehabilitation:

The Forest National Corporation is actively involved in reforestation of degraded areas with particular emphasis in Sinnar and Blue Nile States.
The DNA also received proposals for CDM funding in the fields of cement production and rural electrification through solar energy.
Community Development Fund (CDF) activities in solar energy:
CDF is working with communities in large number of localities in Kordofan (North and South), Kassala, Blue Nile, Red Sea and more localities are in the pipeline. Up to 2008, they provided solar power to more than 100 communities and more than 80 communities. The spread of solar power is facilitated by the establishment of solar photovoltaic technology in Energy Research Institute in Khartoum.
National Adaptation Program Action (NAPA) for climate change:
This program is confined to states (River Nile, North Kordofan, Gadarif, and South Darfur). The implemented activities are designed to enhance community’s resilience and adaptation to climate change. The best practices outlined in an evaluation include:

* Sand dune fixation, forestry and rangeland rehabilitation
* Improved water harvesting practices.
* Establishment of community managed horticulture gardens.
* Livestock improvement activities
* Community awareness.
The lessons learned from past sustainability efforts direct attention to the need of adoption of green growth strategy by allocating certain percentage of GDP to renewable, energy efficiency.

* There are gains to be made in the economic field, conservation of resources endowment and achieving growth that enhances human well-being and social equity.

* It is important to endorse national policies with incentives to promote green investments by both public and private. International cooperation will be essential to complement national actions through funding to support clean technology adoption and trade related capacity building in green sectors.

* Efforts to realize green economy will enhance economic diversification, poverty reduction and achievement of MDG’s
* It is important to tap the country’s huge potential in renewable energy in order to arrest the agro-ecological degradation that trap millions in poverty.

* A green economy strategy must be integrated into our five-year plans.

* Two important sources that advance green economy in the country are the potentials to tap solar energy and hydropower.

* Carbon finance and CDM could play increasingly important roles in the country to advance the road to green economy.

* There are numerous untapped opportunities for funding actions on climate change mitigation and adaptations. It is important to begin drawing international support on funding the programmes developed through NAPA process as well as infrastructure and capacity building.