Anchors of Hope: Women driving recovery and resilience

The Sudan’s conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has created one of the world’s fastest-growing humanitarian crises. Today, an estimated 30.4 million people need assistance and more than 14.2 million have been displaced with nearly 10 million within Sudan and over 4.2 million in neighbouring countries. Rural communities have suffered deep losses as farms are abandoned, markets disrupted, and food prices soar. In this fragile environment, women are especially vulnerable. Yet many have emerged as vital leaders, protecting their families, land and dignity.

Madina: Farmer, Leader, Mother

In Kalahoot Scheme in Kassala State, Madina Ibrahim Mohamed, a 47-year-old smallholder farmer and a mother of three, became one of those leaders. With a lifetime of experience in agriculture and livestock, Madina already played a key role in her community. She leads the Voluntary Women Farming Groups of the Kalahoot Scheme and is an active member of the Women Development Network in Kassala. She also works as a community Animal Health Worker and a local agricultural extensionist, advising others on field crops and vegetable production. Despite limited formal education, Madina pushed forward with her studies and enrolled at Sudan Open University, a testament to her determination to continue growing in the face of adversity.

“We, as women, live the daily consequences of conflict, yet our voices are rarely included,” said Madina. “True change will only come when women and girls are empowered through education, training, and leadership opportunities to shape the peace our communities so urgently need.”

Choosing Kindness in Crisis

When the conflict broke out in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, Madina’s world was turned upside down. Still, in the midst of uncertainty, her family chose kindness. They welcomed three displaced families into their modest home, sharing every meal, every space, and every ounce of hope they had for nearly two years.

“The conflict has weighed heavily on us. Everything is so expensive now,” Madina said. “We manage with what little we have, and even when there’s nothing, we stay thankful.” But their generosity stretched their resources thin. Long before the planting season, they had already exhausted their small reserves of sorghum and cash, leaving them without seeds or money to cultivate their fields. 

Women Rising Together

Madina was determined to change her future, refusing to let hardship define her life. Together with 218 women farmers, she organized a local response, reaching out to government institutions, UN agencies, and both national and international NGOs for support. FAO was the first to respond in 2024, delivering sorghum seeds through its emergency seed distribution campaign, a lifeline amid Sudan’s deepening hunger crisis. With seeds in hand, the women were able to rent land at low cost, cultivate in time for the rainy season and produce a considerable harvest of sorghum and vegetables.

“This support truly empowered women,” said Aisha Osheik, FAO Sector Coordinator. “They chose to lead, to make decisions and to carry out the work themselves. It gave them independence and, more importantly, it gave them hope at a time when everything felt uncertain.”

Beyond Food Production

The impact went beyond food production. With support from Kassala Microfinance Institution, 48 women received seed money to launch small income-generating activities by selling soap, oil, biscuits and other local goods. All the women successfully repaid their loans within ten months and have continued their businesses independently.

Resilience Rooted in the Land

Through personal hardship and community struggle, Madina continues to lead with strength, humility and vision. Her story reflects the resilience of Sudanese women who, even in crisis, remain deeply rooted in their land and their role as providers — and who are choosing to rise, organize and lead. What started as a struggle for survival has grown into new skills and a source of confidence and resilience.