Ahfad university for Women-Sudan Women in Rural Sudan The Case of Al Dagag Village Gihan Adam Abdalla Ahfad University for Women Agriculture and Sustainable Rural Development in Times of Crisis Humboldt-University Berlin, January 25-26, 2013

Ahfad University for Women-Sudan 10 years successful Ahfad – Humboldt Link program on Sudanese women survival strategies: Challenges and perspectives with emphasis on ecology and food security

Women in Rural Sudan The context of Sudan: The case of Sudan is unique when discussing poverty Because of: Long-time war After war challenges Separation and economic shock

Dictatorship and authoritative Economic challenges, inflation, liberalization, and economic underdevelopment Social challenges, education, health, gender Regional differentiation and rural urban prejudice Migration

Al Dagag Village

Poverty in Al Dagag Depending on rain-fed agriculture Low income Living at a subsistent level Inappropriate infrastructure Indigenous technologies and knowledge

Poverty in Al Dagag Low standards of living Poor technologies

Poverty in Al Dagag Accessibility of water Illiteracy and health threats

Services in Al Dagag “worsening poverty”

Services in Al Dagag

Vulnerability in Al Dagag Different types of personal shocks E.g. sickness, injuries, death Varied types of general and natural disasters E.g. fires,draught(s )

Vulnerability in Al Dagag

Women’s Livelihood Living in chronic poverty and vulnerability giving women more space to have an economic activity Division of land: Household land (clay land for the husband) Small piece of land in sandy soil (for the wife) They have control over their production and money Quoting from Mona: “We do not say this is my land and this is your land; however everyone knows his or her land’s boundaries, size, production and income which are used separately”

Women’s Livelihood Women’s Livelihood Patterns: Women are farmers Women are also working as labourer Different agriculture practices are linked with women e.g. Hibiscus is a “women crop” Women are more involved in different economic activities as: Shopkeepers Shail traders (Money lenders) Crop traders

Women’s Livelihood Aisha Al Daw

Women in Al Dagag Women having a “word” in the household: They are allowed to go to the markets They are more involved in public services (they dig the water basin Hafeer) Cases of women taking the full household’s responsibility are increasing Despite what men said that they are the bread-winners Women pay for a huge part of the household needs This is seen by them as the main reason for having a “word” in the household

Women’s Livelihood Women save more than men But still social norms do not leave a lot of room for diversifications Women headed households are the poorest

Women building the Social Capital Coping Strategies: How people surviving in Al Dagag Women are the main actors in “helping each other” Women are more involved in social networks that are considered as important social security mechanism Wajib (Cash/non-cash contributions to help each other) Nafeer (Group work to help in harvesting) Sanduqs (ROSCAs)

Thank you Dr. Gihan Adam Abdalla For more information: