A vast country grappling with climate change and conflict
Diminishing natural resources such as water, pastureland, and fertile farming land have caused increased competition between neighbouring communities, severely disrupting the country. For this reason, Sudan has been described as the “home of the world’s first climate change war”. The latest outbreak of civil war in April 2023 has posed incredible challenges for this vast country as climate change and geopolitics combine to create substantial social and political instability. This vast country now faces incredible challenges as climate change and geopolitics combine to create substantial social and political instability.
Sudan has extensive agricultural land, yet unpredictable rainfall, inadequate management of water resources, absence of modern irrigation, and loss of traditional knowledge as a result of conflict have hit agriculture. A third of the population already lives below the poverty line. This could rise rapidly as civil conflict threatens security in some regions, increasing gender inequality and migration.
But in the face of enormous challenges, Practical Action staff have remained dedicated to the strong bonds we have built through 30 years of helping people adapt to climate change and feed their communities despite the ongoing conflict.
We work with communities in remote rural areas across the country through two offices in North Darfur (Elfasher and Kabkabya), in the east of Sudan (Kassala) and in the south (Blue Nile). We focus on building resilience through better agricultural practices, access to water and renewable energy.
Our long-standing ties with vulnerable communities allow us to combine our knowledge and proven techniques, advocating for policies and decisions that tackle the underlying problems at scale and reduce the tension and conflict among communities.
