Sudan is currently the only country in the world where famine is confirmed, although many countries are at risk of famine. According to the latest data from the World Food Programme (WFP), 24.6 million people, over half the population, are acutely food insecure. From the World Health Organization (WHO), 4.9 million children and pregnant or breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished. With recent funding cuts to foreign aid and a global economic downturn, how can funders respond to the worsening hunger crisis in Sudan?

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Program Officer, International Funds, Tracy O’Heir, moderated a webinar to discuss potential ideas and solutions with the following panelists:

This webinar was co-sponsored by Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders, PEAK Grantmaking, Alliance Magazine, United Philanthropy Forum and Giving Compass.

How does humanitarian aid in Sudan need to evolve given recent funding cuts?

According to WFP’s Hughes, humanitarian organizations need to increase prioritization of the places with the most acute needs, which tend to be the hardest to reach. As funders and governments cut costs, reducing program sizes, access to information and data are often significantly reduced as well. 

To maximize the resources we have, it’s imperative to place a sharper focus on integration of other services as well. As Hughes mentioned, “…food assistance alone will not stop a famine.” Children will die from disease before they die from lack of food, so food assistance must accompany health care, sanitation, water and shelter. 

Cuts in funding also mean looking at program delivery and funding differently. This includes an increased focus on services delivered by local partners on the ground. Motka said, “I think it's beholden on organizations like WFP, the United Nations, some larger NGOs, and others to find awareness ... you may be looking at blended models of financing with philanthropy, with non-traditional donors, with diaspora, with communities ... you may not be solely responsible for the full delivery, and you're more of an enabler in that space.”

What should funding to Sudanese communities look like? 

Motka said decisions on what programs would best support communities should be left up to local and national actors. He added, “They've set up incredible coordination mechanisms in incredibly difficult circumstances … with a lot of support from the diaspora community. We have to acknowledge the fact that it hasn't been the international system or philanthropy or whatever that's actually enabled this to happen. It's been a Sudanese diaspora from around the world that has stepped up for their communities at home.”

WFP is focusing on assisting about 85% of the population in the 27 areas that have been classified as suffering from famine already or are at risk of famine. Partnerships with national NGOs, Sudanese NGOs and emergency response rooms are the only way this is possible.

Funders should also think about the untapped potential of cash transfers as a default modality. Cash transfers provide dignity and choice for individuals and families. They also help support the private sector where markets are operational. 

O’Heir provided three takeaways for donors who want to help resolve famine in Sudan. 

  • Famine is a preventable disaster. There are solutions and ways to help.
  • Women and girls eat the least and last. They spend much of their time collecting firewood and water, tending to livestock and crops and making food for their families. Young girls have a reduced ability to attend school, which often leads to child marriage and poor maternal health. Programs to support feeding should address the unique needs of women and children. 
  • Famines are never inevitable—they are always predictable, preventable and man-made. There are actions funders can take before more regions experience famine. CDP’s recently updated Issue Insight on Hunger includes advice for donors.  shares ways that donors can support famine prevention efforts. 

In a follow-up email to CDP, Saty urged donors not to lose sight of the humanitarian crisis in the country. “Now more than ever, it’s essential to keep the spotlight on Sudan. With limited media coverage and shrinking international attention, platforms like this are vital to ensuring that the voices of those on the ground are heard.”