Evaluation of Socio – economic Impact of Structural Adjustment Program in Sudan (1978 – 2016)

Abstract

The overall objective of this study is to evaluate the socio-economic impacts of Structural Adjustment Program (SAPs) in Sudan and the problems that faced its implementation. The study hypothesized that (SAPs) will not decrease inflation, foreign debt or poverty. However, the assessment of the effects of (SAPs) on Sudan economy is a challenging task because there are many outside factors that has affected the outcomes of the program. To overcome the limitations posed by these outside factors the study used the descriptive statistic approach and quantitative data i.e. figures and tables and employed qualitative methods to analyze and interpret the data that has been gathered, the findings of the study indicates:- 1- The timing of the implementation of (SAPs) was not significant because the civil war undermined the success of the program through its effects on the fiscal and the monetary policy. 2- The successes of (SAPs) require a well-structured economy but Sudan economic structure is a colonial heritage which is unstructured and weak. 3- (SAPs) focus on economic growth and leave out social development, and lack income distribution mechanism, therefore it is an incomplete economic strategy 4- The IMF macro- economic policies and the WB structural policies are not integrated; The IMF policies have negative effects on the WB policies. 5- Institutions and governance that facilitate market economy are weak in Sudan and therefore resulted in decreasing the effectiveness of the program. In fact Sudan is held back more by civil war, economic mismanagement and weak economic structure than by lack of human or natural resources.Therefore, thestudy recommends that the success of the program requires achieving peace and security which is necessary for the success of the program and the existence of a stable society which is ready for sustainable development. Since Sudan is an agricultural country (SAPs) should give theagricultural sector the importance that it deserves so as to alter the weak economic structure bydiversifying the economy through the agricultural sector by moving of the resources from law value commodity production to high value commodity production by focusing on horticulture, diary, poultry and fisheries so as to respond to the high demand for these products nationally and internationally i.e.to produce for self-sufficiency to save hard currency and to produce for export to earn hard currency that is necessary for paying off foreign debt control inflation and reduce poverty.