Flagship project
Strengthening inclusive partnerships for smallholders in rain-fed areas
SIPRA strengthens Sudan's food system by enhancing small-scale farmers' capacities, promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture practices, and supporting private sector and farmer-led initiatives to improve food security, with 131 small grants awarded to Producer Associations and Farmer Networks across seven targeted states to date, including 4,283 beneficiaries in Gedaref.
The challenge
Sudan faces severe food insecurity driven by prolonged displacement, economic decline, inflation, and high food prices. The Darfur region and South Kordofan are among the hardest-hit areas, with many people relying on food aid for over half of their caloric intake. The armed conflict that began in April 2023 has further worsened the crisis, destroying agricultural assets, disrupting supply chains, displacing the labour force, and reducing the country's agricultural production capacity by more than 66%.
Our goal
The project aims to promote, restore, and strengthen the role of the private sector in Sudan's food system to improve food security and nutrition. By supporting the production and availability of nutritious food in local markets, the project seeks to enhance the resilience and recovery of Sudan's agri-food sector amid ongoing conflict and economic challenges.
Our approach
The project follows a three-branched approach:
1. Capacity building: Strengthening the technical and entrepreneurial capacities of small-scale farmers, rural associations, and cooperatives across seven states in East and West Sudan.
2. Climate Smart Agriculture promotion: Introducing and scaling climate-resilient agricultural practices, with a focus on sustainable soil management and improved soil fertility.
3. Challenge Fund implementation: Designing and managing a €3 million fund to support farmer associations and private sector initiatives that restore food and nutrition security, reduce pre- and post-harvest losses, shorten supply chains through local input provision, and strengthen local economic development.
Impact in numbers
Through the SIPRA Challenge Fund, the project has supported smallholder organizations and local enterprises to strengthen food value chains, create employment opportunities, and improve rural livelihoods in Sudan. The community sorghum milling initiative in White Nile State also reduced processing costs for members. Overall, SIPRA has demonstrated the potential of locally driven agribusiness investments to enhance food security, strengthen local markets, reduce post-harvest losses, and promote inclusive economic opportunities.
Key highlights
- The project enabled local producer associations to increase and strengthen their technical, operational and entrepreneurial capacities across varied states and farming conditions over Sudan. Through the competitive financing mechanism of the Challenge Fund, local Producer Associations, Farmer Networks and Private Sector Organizations increased their opportunities for strengthening local food production and establishing market linkages, ultimately resulting into tangible agricultural production increase, income generation and employment opportunities.
Voices from the field
Before the oilseed processing machine, accessing high-quality oil was costly and difficult. Now, women and youth have jobs, households earn more, and the community enjoys better food security and economic resilience.
Before, we sold groundnuts cheaply to traders. Now we produce oil, peanut butter, and animal feed, which has doubled our income and created jobs for young people in our village.
Before, we travelled 30 kilometers for grinding, spending money and losing time. Now, the grinding unit provides affordable services, and the daily income supports our association.
Success story
From selling raw groundnuts to creating value locally: a farmer's journey in East Darfur
In Alnayir Village, East Darfur, members of the Alwihda Producer Association saw an opportunity to transform their groundnut production from a low-return activity into a source of greater income and employment. Before SIPRA support, farmers mainly sold raw groundnuts, capturing only a small share of the value generated from their crop.
Through a €10,560 grant from the SIPRA Challenge Fund, the association received oilseed processing equipment along with technical, business, and financial training. This enabled community members to process groundnuts into high-quality cooking oil, while using by-products as livestock feed, reducing waste and creating additional value.
For one association member, this support meant moving beyond subsistence production towards a more resilient livelihood. The processing unit increased household incomes by around 50%, benefited more than 200 households, and created 20 jobs, particularly for women and youth. Today, the community is capturing more value from its own production, strengthening local food security and creating new economic opportunities.
Alwihda Producer Association · Alnayir Village, East Darfur