Rebuilding trust in Sudan
The brutal conflict in Sudan has created the world’s most devastating humanitarian and displacement crisis. Over the last three years, the collapse of everyday life—from food systems to basic healthcare—has left nearly 34 million people in need of aid, with women and children paying the highest price.
Over 15 million people have been forced from their homes, with almost 12 million internally displaced.
Yet, even during a crisis, there can be hope. In Sudan’s eastern state of Kassala, located close to the border with Eritrea, communities fractured by war and deep ethnic divides are starting a quiet revolution.
Here, local peacebuilding initiatives are proving that rebuilding trust isn't just a long-term goal after the war—it is an immediate, life-saving necessity.
Photo above: Aerial view of Kassala in Eastern Sudan. Credit: Giles Clarke Photo below: Displaced women and children at a former school in Kassala. Credit: Giles Clarke
Women bridging divides through trade
A group of women from different backgrounds—some displaced by violence, others local to the host community—have come together to launch a joint trade initiative, supplying daily essentials like sugar, flour, and cooking oil.
Supported by the UN Peacebuilding Fund and partners, the initiative goes far beyond economic survival. Their weekly business meetings have transformed into safe spaces where women bridge mistrust, resolve challenges, and rebuild the social ties severed by war. What began as a small business is now a powerful model of community-led stabilization.
Gisma Kassala, SudanI used to worry about the future, about division. We now have a reason to work together, to support each other. It has changed how we see ourselves — not just as tribes, but as women with a common purpose.”
The movement for peace isn't limited to the marketplace. Young people in Kassala are actively stepping into mediation roles traditionally reserved for community elders. Through specialized training, these young leaders are working to counter rising crime, drug use, and misinformation.
By organizing awareness sessions in local markets, cafes, and youth centres, they are not just advocating for peace—they are mediating disputes, bridging generational divides, and preventing local tensions from escalating into broader conflict.
Photo below: Khawla - a youth trained to meditate disputes. Credit: UNDP Sudan
KhawlaKadugli, SudanWhen I see young people listening, asking questions, and starting to believe that peace is possible, I know our work matters. It’s not just about awareness—it's about restoring trust and rebuilding our communities from the ground up.”
Rebuilding from ground up
The community-level efforts in Kassala demonstrate that even during conflict, targeted peacebuilding interventions can create vital pockets of stability.
By choosing community-led reconciliation over military responses, local authorities are seeing a noticeable reduction in tribal conflicts. These small, consistent acts of cooperation provide a powerful counter-narrative to the violence defining Sudan’s recent history.
Our partners in peacebuilding in Sudan
For 20 years, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund has empowered people to rebuild their communities and countries in the aftermath of conflict and crisis, working with them to build the resilience needed to prevent the recurrence of violence and secure lasting peace.
Since the outbreak of the war in Sudan in April 2023, the Fund has prioritized efforts to strengthen social cohesion and foster peaceful coexistence in conflict-affected areas. Implemented by UN Development Programme, UNICEF and local partners, the Strengthening Capacities for Peace and Social Cohesion initiative in Kassala and Red Sea States supports community-led livelihoods, youth empowerment and gender equality.
UN Peacebuilding initiatives are made possible by the generous contributions of Member States and the indispensable support of implementing partners.