Adaptions to a changing climate in Sudan

The people of eastern Sudan are seriously affected by the dire effects of climate
change. The instability of precipitation changes all the rules and equilibria in agriculture, on
which their vital activity depends fundamentally. In the Gedaref area, the effects of climate
change can be a matter of life and death. 90% of the population is employed in agriculture.
Most of them depend on subsistence farming, and only a small minority can grow surpluses
for sale in local markets. With the rise in global temperatures, the threat of drought for the
inhabitants of Gedaref is constant and daunting.

In 2015, the German Red Cross, in collaboration with the Sudanese Red Crescent,
launched a two-year project to reduce the negative impact of climate change on smallholder
farmers in Gedaref. The main goal was to increase agricultural production and increase the
resilience of those affected by the decrease in rainfall. The project focuses on 12 communities
with 800 families. The project benefits approximately 10% more women and is also gender-
balanced.

In close collaboration with local structures and stakeholders, this € 1 million project
educates and supports communities in the fight against malnutrition. Planting new seeds and
educating farmers in new and more sustainable practices have had a significant impact on the
livelihoods and resilience of vulnerable communities.

For example, training in the production of organic fertilizers has allowed local
farmers to reduce costs and reduce the negative health effects of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides they previously used. “Now I can make my own fertilizers using what is on my
farm; not a poison that is harmful to our health, ”says 70-year-old Fashir Vedaa Abdella.

The project also supported the community to develop a specialized food chain with
products from different food groups to ensure balanced nutrition and create a surplus to sell
in the market. The training program also covered various aspects of nutrition, production and
use of vegetables. Asha Ishaq Sharif, a 45-year-old mother of 12, says: “With everything I
was taught in the training, I can do things better. Now I can take care of my family - I can
even make some money from what we grow for us. "

Farmers receive training in new techniques to battle climate change in a field school in Gorisha East

The project focuses on sustainability while improving the economic situation and the needs
of local farmers. Measures to ensure economic growth in the short term are designed not to
undermine resources and the environment for present and future generations.
An example of such a measure is the tree planting component of a project that has helped not
only reduce soil erosion but also raise water levels, thereby improving the general health of
the population. More than 10,000 neem trees have been planted in the region over the two
years of the project. Moreover, the project has helped communities install and manage
rainwater harvesting systems, making them more drought-resistant. These systems are built
using local resources, making them sustainable and reproducible.

Rainwater Harvesting, Shueib Village

The combination of new organic farming methods, ecosystem restoration and

sustainable rainwater harvesting systems has increased the long-term sustainability of the
production chain.

The project has helped households in Gedaref significantly increase their income and
therefore improve their health and education