Subject to the world's largest hunger crisis, Sudan is experiencing a catastrophic crisis in which half of the country -around 26 million- faces acute hunger. In these harsh conditions and with the objective of mitigating the rising risks, ZOA, in cooperation with the European Union, just launched an initiative to enhance food security in the eastern territories of Gedaref and Kassala.
New project focuses on women and youth
Aiming at benefiting around 40,000 people, the project will be implemented in 55 villages in the states of Gedaref and Kassala, which host increasing numbers of internal displaced populations coming from conflict zones.
Smallholder farmers, smallholder animal producers, nomads, fishermen, communities, Internally Displace Persons (IDPs) and immigrants are major beneficiaries of the initiative that will run from now until 2027.
ZOA works with a local partner, BRDO, that aims at enhancing sustainable food security and livelihoods opportunities for rural communities with a focus on youth and women.
Activities will focus on improving agroecology rainfed farming and horticulture, on enhancing capacities of fishery production associations and on facilitating access to finance for farmers, livestock and fishery producer associations. It also focuses on improving access to water for drinking and agriculture. The objective is to diversify the production and to create sustainable and decent jobs for youth and women.
The project includes cultivation of highly nutritious crops such as red beans and chickpeas. Education on nutritious diets as a public health strategy to reduce weak health conditions, such as anaemia or night blindness, is also an important aspect.
ZOA is grateful for the funding of the European Union for this project. “The European Union is deeply concerned for the Sudanese people in this critical time and this project expresses this preoccupation,” said Eltayeb Omer, Project Manager at ZOA.