The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH resumed its engagement in Sudan in 2014, after almost three decades of absence due to a prolonged civil war. Since the military coup in 2021, GIZ has focused its work exclusively on initiatives that directly support the Sudanese population.
Sudan: a resource-rich country in humanitarian crisis
Sudan is among the poorest countries in Africa despite its rich resource base. The current conflict has severely impacted household incomes, agricultural productivity, social cohesion, local governance and access to energy. According to the United Nations, almost half of the country’s population faces acute food insecurity. Over 4.5 million people have fled the country, and more than 6.8 million people are internally displaced. By the beginning of 2026, 12.7 million people were at risk of gender-based violence (GBV). Less than a third of all households have access to electricity.
Women-led households are particularly affected, and women-owned businesses struggle to establish themselves on the market. Farmer groups face the challenge of adapting to changing environmental conditions while producing enough food for their families and the market.
These challenges also affect refugees: Sudan remains one of Africa’s largest refugee-hosting countries. Social exclusion and a weak economy limit refugees’ opportunities for livelihood security.
At the same time, civil society actors continue to lead local emergency response efforts, to foster community dialogue aimed at tackling polarisation, to actively combat hate speech and to document human rights violations.
Strengthening resilience and social cohesion: GIZ's work in Sudan
GIZ collaborates with local, regional, and international partners, private companies and civil society actors. Together, they support host communities, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in improving their livelihoods.
The common focus includes:
- Agriculture and nutrition
- Economy and employment
- Peace and security
Farmer associations in the eastern states of Kassala and Gedaref use solar-powered energy solutions to improve their agricultural production, reduce post-harvest losses and increase product values. They are also exploring the possibility of expanding shared machinery parks. Community members participate in programmes focused on income generation, livelihood improvement and social cohesion. This also strengthens the local private sector.
Sudanese civil society actors working on peaceful and inclusive development receive organisational support, networking support and funding for peacebuilding, civic education and advocacy, with a particular focus on young people and women.
Together with local partners, GIZ is working to end female genital mutilation and strengthen legal protections for women. It is also expanding psychosocial support services – including for survivors of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence.
The main commissioning party is the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Sudan in brief
Insights
