Building Resilience in Sudan: Sustain Sudan Project Launched “Our mission is simple but urgent: ensure fertilizer is available across Sudan and affordable for smallholder farmers,” said Ben Valk, International Director, Sustain Africa Partners from across Africa and beyond gathered in Nairobi for the launch of the Sustain Sudan Project, uniting efforts to tackle Sudan’s deepening […]
“Our mission is simple but urgent: ensure fertilizer is available across Sudan and affordable for smallholder farmers,” said Ben Valk, International Director, Sustain Africa
Partners from across Africa and beyond gathered in Nairobi for the launch of the Sustain Sudan Project, uniting efforts to tackle Sudan’s deepening food crisis. With over 25 million people facing acute food insecurity and cereal harvests nearly halved in 2023, the project aims to revive local food production amid ongoing conflict.
Key partners including Sustain Africa, IFDC, CIMMYT, the Clingendael Institute, and 249Startups met to align strategies, operational plans, and commitments. The project takes a market-based approach, working with agro-dealers, logistics providers, and financial institutions to restore input supply chains and strengthen private-sector resilience.
“By securing fair prices and moving inputs efficiently, we’re helping farmers keep producing food despite the challenges,” said Valk.
CIMMYT, the lead implementing partner, emphasized combining digital tracking, agronomic support, and targeted extension services to ensure effective input use and protect market integrity.
Sustain Sudan will:
- Deliver 260,000 metric tons of discounted fertilizer and farm inputs
- Reach 2 million farming households
- Cover 5 million hectares
- Target 40% yield increases on fertilized plots
Rather than free aid, the project offers training, and a voucher system to support markets and empower farmers.
“Every delivery is conflict-sensitive, starting in the safest areas and expanding as conditions allow,” said Anette Hoffmann of the Clingendael Institute.
For winter 2025, the project will focus on 50,000 metric tons of key fertilizers, with plans to expand to seeds, crop protection, and farmer support in 2026.
Ultimately, Sustain Sudan aims not just to feed people now, but to help Sudan rebuild a resilient and sustainable agricultural economy
Original post by Maria Monayo, Communications Specialist at CIMMYT.
