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At Building Resilience Development Organization (BRDO), our mission is to empower communities, helping them develop the skills and knowledge to build sustainable livelihoods. Our project “Integrated Food Security and Livelihood Support for Communities in Gedaref and Kassala States” operates in Gedarif and Kassala states, made possible through our partnership with ZOA and the generous donation of the European Union.
The communities of Eastern Sudan, particularly in the Gedaref and Kassala states, face a complex set of challenges. The conflict has led to a significant influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs), placing a strain on already limited resources. Climate change brings unpredictable weather, threatening the rain-fed agriculture that forms the backbone of the local economy.
These factors contribute to severe food insecurity. In the lean season of 2023, it was projected that nearly half the population in Kassala and over a quarter in Gedaref would face crisis levels of food shortages. Families struggle with market disruptions, rising food prices, and reduced harvests, making it difficult to secure a stable and nutritious food supply.
Our intervention is designed to address these root causes of vulnerability. We believe that by investing in local capacity, promoting sustainable practices, and focusing on the most affected groups—especially women and youth—we can help build a future where communities don’t just survive, but thrive.
Our approach is holistic, targeting the interconnected challenges of food security, economic opportunity, and community empowerment. Here’s a look at what we’re doing on the ground:
Modernizing Agriculture: We are training thousands of smallholder farmers in modern, climate-smart agricultural practices through our Farmer Field Schools. Here, farmers learn everything from using improved seeds and water conservation techniques to safely managing pests, helping them increase their yields and adapt to environmental changes.
Empowering Women with Home Gardens: To directly combat malnutrition, we are supporting women—particularly mothers of malnourished children—to establish home gardens.
Strengthening Community Voices: We are helping farmers organize into Producer Associations (PAs). By working together, these associations can gain legal recognition, access better financing, negotiate for fair prices, and advocate for their needs with service providers and local authorities.
Applying knowledge: Demonstration plots are a core component of the “Integrated Food Security and Livelihood Support” project, serving as practical, hands-on learning environments for smallholder farmers. These plots directly complement the theoretical knowledge shared in Farmer Field Schools (FFS). Their primary purpose is to showcase modern, improved, and climate-smart agricultural practices, allowing farmers to witness the benefits firsthand.
As part of the Integrated Food Security Support Project in Kassala and Gedaref States, Building Resilience Development Organization (BRDO), in partnership with ZOA International, conducted a series of advocacy training sessions designed to strengthen community capacity to influence positive social and policy change.
The training introduced participants to key advocacy principles and practical tools, including how to identify priority issues, plan effective campaigns, build alliances, engage decision-makers, and mobilize community support. through inclusive dialogue and collaboration among community stakeholders.
Participants developed local advocacy plans addressing issues such as agriculture, pastoralism, fishery contributing to sustainable development and enabling communities to play an active role in shaping decisions that affect their lives.
Through the Integrated Food Security and Livelihood Support Project in Gedaref and Kassala States, Building Resilience Development Organization (BRDO), in partnership with ZOA, is working to bridge the gap between small producers and financial institutions.
Under the Access to Finance component, multi-stakeholder platforms are being established to connect farmers’, livestock, and fishery producer associations with banks, microfinance institutions, and private sector actors. These platforms provide space for dialogue, policy engagement, and practical collaboration to promote financial inclusion.
BRDO trains association leaders and members on financial literacy, saving practices, and how to access fair loans and credit facilities. The project also strengthens their advocacy and negotiation skills, enabling them to engage effectively with banks and service providers.
As part of the Integrated Food Security and Livelihood Support Project in Gedaref and Kassala States, Building Resilience Development Organization (BRDO), in partnership with ZOA, is leading engaging awareness campaigns to promote better nutrition, hygiene, and healthy dietary practices among vulnerable communities.
These campaigns are brought to life through mobile theatre performances, making key messages accessible, entertaining, and impactful for rural audiences. The interactive approach helps families, especially women and youth, understand the importance of diversified diets, safe food preparation, and improved hygiene for overall well-being.
The journey toward resilience in Eastern Sudan is far from over, but the progress we are witnessing is a powerful reminder of what is possible when communities, partners, and donors come together with a shared vision. At BRDO, we remain deeply committed to empowering women, youth, and farmers with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to overcome adversity and create lasting change.
Every home garden planted, every association formed, and every training completed is more than just an activity—it is a step toward dignity, self-reliance, and hope. These successes belong not only to BRDO and our partners, but to the resilient people of Gedaref and Kassala who continue to inspire us with their determination to build a better future.
With continued collaboration, innovation, and support, we can ensure that the seeds of change being sown today will grow into a future where every family has access to food, water, and opportunity. Together, we are not just responding to urgent needs—we are building resilient futures for generations to come.
