Water, peace, and resilience in Eastern Sudan

Water resources have been underutilised for decades in Sudan’s eastern states of Kassala and Gedarif. These issues are particularly pressing due to long-standing development gaps, recurring floods and limited infrastructure, which have left many communities without dependable access to clean water. Climate change and ongoing political tensions add further pressure, putting many, especially young children, at risk of waterborne illnesses like cholera. However, new, sustainable water access and management methods are possible.

Through the Building Resilience for Food-Vulnerable Households through Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) in Kassala and Gedarif States project, we support more than 21,000 households with vital water infrastructure, boosting agricultural productivity and strengthening long-term resilience. By addressing the root causes of food insecurity, we are helping communities protect their resources, improve their capabilities, and access income through work that supports and uplifts their community. In doing so, we are improving short-term food security and nutrition and opening opportunities for growth and self-reliance.

Water and stability: two sides of the same coin

Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene remains critically lacking across Sudan, with the eastern states of Kassala and Gedarif facing some of the most severe challenges. These gaps seriously threaten public health and deepen existing vulnerabilities, especially for children.

Today, 17.3 million people in Sudan lack access to essential drinking water services, and more than 12 million rely on unsafe sources (UNICEF 2025). This widespread dependence on contaminated water fuels the spread of diseases such as cholera, which are among the leading causes of death for children under five. For decades, communities in Kassala and Gedarif have lived with the consequences of marginalisation, underdevelopment, and poverty. Many residents near the irrigation canal have never had access to clean drinking water, while others endure seasonal flooding, persistent water shortages, and chronic food insecurity.

Climate change intensifies these challenges, disrupting rainfall patterns and accelerating the degradation of already limited water resources. At the same time, political instability and weak institutions undermine effective governance and the delivery of essential water services. These overlapping crises highlight the urgent need for community-led solutions built to last. Focusing on water access improves health and daily living conditions and helps communities become more resilient, cohesive, and stable.

Strengthening water access and building community resilience

The Building Resilience for Food-Vulnerable Households through FFA in Kassala & Gedarif states, funded by the World Food Program (WFP), aims to address the immediate food needs through cash, vouchers, or food transfers. At the same time, it promotes the building or rehabilitation of assets that will improve long-term food security and resilience. To make this possible, we are:

• Enhancing water security and availability through efficient water use practices that ensure a reliable water supply via environmentally friendly technologies and renewable energy.
• Improving community resilience by developing strategies to help communities adapt to climate change impacts on water resources.
• Strengthening institutional capacity through enhanced governance and institutional frameworks for integrated water resource management.
• Promoting equity and inclusivity by ensuring equitable access to water resources and involving marginalised communities in decision-making processes.
• Enabling long-term community resilience building to withstand future shocks by creating community productive assets and providing climate adaptation measures and knowledge.

By the end of the project, we will:

• Ensure clean water access for 21,000 households
• Build 16 solar-powered water yards
• Rehabilitate 8 abandoned water yards
• Build a water line connection of at least 600 meters at each village and ensure water connection to the schools, health facilities and community centres
• Install 24 solar systems in community facilities
• Install 6 subsurface dams to store water below ground and elevate the groundwater level
• Install 30 solar irrigation systems for farmers’ associations.