A few quick reactions to the just-concluded #Sudan Partners Forum. First, its a big triumph for @SudanPMHamdok and his team. Their remarks were optimistic but also realistic--acknowledging the transition "is not all rosey, its messy and non-linear" and must manage expectations.

Framed as a partners forum, not a donor/pledging conference, the emphasis was rightly on supporting the transition and civilian rule, not calculating pledges. That was smart as it was almost impossible to count/differentiate past pledges, new money, and in-kind support.

Also, hard to know what the impact will be given pledges earmarked for development aid, humanitarian assistance, bilat and multilat debt foregiveness, COVID response, and for the Finance Ministry's Family Support Program. That said, near $2 billion was pledged, particularly from:

Germany 150m euros
EU 251m euros
USA 356m USD
France 60m euros
UK 150m Pounds
UAE 50m USD
KSA 10m USD
Norway 30m USD
Canada 60m USD
Sweden 38m euro
Korea 7.5m USD
Belgium 25m euro
Italy 19m euro
Japan 12m USD
Swiss 12m euro

Announced total: $1.8billion USD pledges

Importantly, of the 46 countries and institutions that spoke: 23 made a point of calling for debt relief and/or IFI lending to Sudan; 14 called for removing the US SST designation and remaining sanctions; and 32 called/pledge response to COVID crisis.

To conclude, IMF chief got it right "Sudan is dealing with the heaviest of legacies in the most difficult of times." A truly remarkable show of organization and commitment and the start of a new chapter in Sudanese relations with the world.