USAID and DAL Food sign deal to help Sudanese children

By Jim Cornall

- Last updated on GMT

DAL Food and USAID are looking to improve nutrition and education through the school milk program.
DAL Food and USAID are looking to improve nutrition and education through the school milk program.

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The US Agency for International Development (USAID), has signed an agreement with DAL Food to provide locally sourced, pasteurized milk to more than 5,000 malnourished school children in Sudan’s Red Sea State.

DAL Food, part of Sudan’s DAL Group, is the biggest dairy producer in the country.

School Milk Program

The agreement is part of a public-private partnership to improve education and nutrition through the School Milk Program (SMP).

The SMP, which began in 2011 for the purpose of improving the nutritional status of Sudanese school children, has provided more than 20m packs to more than 26,000 students.

“People are beginning to understand that the role of an active, vibrant commercial sector is the most effective engine for sustainable development,”​ said head of strategy of DAL Food, Sam Bodley-Scott.

He also called on other organizations and governments to help secure more sources of funding for the SMP program.

sudan-pavalena
Red Sea State, shown in red, is the easternmost of Sudan's 18 states. The area in lighter red, above the line is the Hala'ib Triangle, claimed by both Egypt and Sudan. Pic:©iStock/pavalena

The managing director of DAL’s strategic partner, Zain, Alfatih Irwa, also announced support for the program.

Addressing poverty in Sudan

USAID mission director, Dr Jeffrey Ashley, said the American people want to address the underlying causes of poverty and marginalization in Sudan, and partnering with the private sector will be far more effective by combined skills and resources.

US Chargé d’Affaires Steven Koutsis, also present at the signing of the MoU, said the US government is committed to work with DAL Group and other like-minded business colleagues to alleviate poverty and support economic development in Sudan.

Red Sea State, or Al Bahr al Ahmar, is Sudan’s only coastal state, running from the disputed border with Egypt to Eritrea.

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