Press Release published by UN Environmental Programme, February 2025.
The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have launched a new initiative to enhance food security and community resilience in Sudan, focusing on the areas surrounding Dinder National Park. The initiative comes at a critical time as Sudan faces severe humanitarian and environmental challenges, exacerbated by ongoing conflict, climate change, and displacement.
Dinder National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, plays a crucial role in the region’s ecosystem by regulating water flow for the Dinder and Rahad rivers, which are vital for local agriculture. However, rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and increasing human settlements due to conflict-induced displacement have led to habitat degradation and biodiversity loss, threatening both livelihoods and environmental stability.
The EU-UNEP initiative aims to address these challenges by promoting climate-smart agro-ecological practices to strengthen resilience and reduce community tensions. Key components of the project include:
- Improving access to climate information to enable better decision-making.
- Implementing early action strategies to prevent food insecurity.
- Ensuring sustainable and equitable access to natural resources for local and displaced communities.
Since April 2023, Sudan has experienced a worsening humanitarian crisis, with over 9 million people internally displaced, including 1.45 million in the states of Blue Nile, Sennar, and Gedaref, where the initiative is focused. An estimated 25 million people face acute food insecurity, with famine conditions looming in several areas. The initiative directly targets 21,000 households, with at least 40% participation from women, across 23 village clusters in the region. Indirectly, it is expected to benefit over 82,000 individuals through improved food production and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Ambassador Aidan O’Hara, Head of the EU Delegation to Sudan, said,
"The Dinder National Park is a national treasure for Sudan and one of Africa’s oldest parks. It is critical that its protection is ensured during the current conflict and beyond. Our partnership with UNEP will provide environmentally sustainable income-generating opportunities for the local people, and displaced communities in and around the Dinder National Park. This will help sustain people’s livelihoods and improve their food security, while also protecting the biodiversity of this unique park for future generations."
By integrating environmental conservation with livelihood support, this EU-UNEP initiative contributes not only to food security and economic resilience but also to conflict mitigation and long-term peace-building in Sudan. Protecting ecosystems like Dinder National Park is essential for maintaining biodiversity while ensuring that communities can thrive in the face of climate and political challenges.
These are extracts from a press release published by UN Environmental Programme, February 2025. To read the news, follow the link here.