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Women and Household Resilience during Conflict in Al-Abasyia, South Kordofan, Sudan, 2023-2025, Social and Economic Dimensions

Women and Household Resilience during Conflict in Al-Abasyia, South Kordofan, Sudan, 2023-2025, Social and Economic Dimensions

 

A paper by Abida Adam Altayeeb (University of Khartoum), with the support of CEDEJ Khartoum

 

Introduction and Background

Sudan has endured decades of recurring conflicts, leaving deep and lasting impacts on families, livelihoods, and access to essential services. Since 2011, South Kordofan has been particularly affected by clashes between government forces and the Sudanese people’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). More recently, the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid support Forces (RSF) has dramatically escalated the humanitarian crisis, displacing 9,845 displaced people (IOM,2025), both within and outside South Kordofan state.

In Al-Abasyia locality, approximately 500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been recorded; with many households experiencing repeated displacement resulting in the loss of farmland, livestock, source of income and access to basic services.

Women represent 60% of the displaced population in Al-Abasyia, as many men migrated in search of work or have been directly affected by conflict. As a result, women are increasingly assuming primary responsibility for sustaining their households socially, economically, and emotionally. Despites these severe challenges displaced women continue to play a vital role in maintaining household resilience. However, their contributions are often under-recognized and insufficiently documented, and there is limited humanitarian support specifically targeted displaced women. This gap highlights the need to better understand their lived experiences and the challenge they face.

Against this background, this study explores how displaced women contribute to household resilience during conflict, and examines the barriers they encounter while sustaining their families. The importance of this study lies in highlighting women often under-recognized economic and social roles and providing evidence to inform gender-responsive interventions by humanitarian organizations and governmental institutions.

In this study, resilience refers to the capacity of families to absorb shocks, adapt, and recover from economic, social, and psychological challenges caused by conflict (Patel et al., 2017)[1].

 

 

Methodology

This study adopted a mixed-method approach to examine the social and economic role of displaced women in enhancing household resilience during conflicts. This approach was selected to combine quantitative evidence on women’s economic activities with qualitative insights into their lived experiences.

Data were collected in Al-Abasyia locality, South Kordofan state, using a structured questionnaire administered to 169 displaced women over 25 years, across 4 IDP camps. In addition, 4 key informant interviews and 5 focus group discussions were conducted. Participants were selected purposively to ensure diversity in educational level and socio-economic background. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically.

Location of Al-Abasyia Locality, researcher, 2024

 

Women as Economic Pillars: Sustaining Families during Conflict

The ongoing conflict in Al-Abasyia has severely affected household economic stability. With many men absent due to displacement or disappearance, women have become the main economic providers for their families. They initiate new income-generating activities, make financial decisions, and often engage in multiple forms of work, enduring long days and constant uncertainty to sustain their households.

Around 70% of displaced women are engaged in small businesses, seasonal labor, agricultural work, handcrafts, and home-based enterprises, providing alternative sources of income when traditional employment is unavailable. In addition, some women cultivated small plots of land near the camps—locally known as Al-Jabraka—to grow fast-maturing crops and vegetables such as maize, Sorghum, tomatoes, okra. This helped secure household food needs, reduce dependence on external assistance, and strengthen family food security. Moreover, 71% of women ensure household essentials such as food, clothing, and healthcare for their families, directly reducing household vulnerability and demonstrating remarkable adaptability and entrepreneurial capacity of displaced women during the conflict.

Displaced women, a mother of five, shares her daily routine:

My husband went missing during the conflict. Every morning, I go to the market to sell dried vegetables, peanuts, and chili. During planting and harvest, I work in the fields, and in the evening, I craft small household items to sell. Some days are exhausting, but I have to make sure my children have food, clothing, and good health. These activities allow us to survive and cope with the uncertainty around us.”

Seventy percent of displaced women actively participate in financial decision—making, including budgeting and household spending, making them key economic planners, especially in the absence of male household heads. Their ability to prioritize essential needs, respond to income shocks, manage rising costs, and manage resources efficiently strengthens household economic resilience.

To meet household demands, many women have created small savings boxes using income generated from selling handmade products or other activities. These savings are used to provide household essentials such as clothing, cooking tools, and other items. This reflects women’s strong foresight and long-term planning, which enhance the family’s ability to cope with economic shocks.

Women’s economic contributions also improve psychological well-being within the household. Increased income supports better nutrition, healthcare access, and reduces stress. Displaced women, 45, said: “When I returned home from the market, my children would run to greet me with joy and excitement, welcoming me with smiles.”  Overall, displaced women’s economic efforts are not only about securing income, but also help restore a sense of normality, dignity, and emotional well-being for their families.

Women Holding Families Together: Social Resilience in Times of Conflict

Conflict in Al-Abasyia has not only destroyed livelihoods but also shaken the social fabric. The situation is even more complex as 30% of displaced women are widows or divorced, while around 60% live without their husbands, often with no communication. This prolonged absence places women at the center of daily decision-making, emotional care, and household management.

During the conflict, displaced women often take the first steps to protect their children, ensuring they are moved to safer areas away from violence. Additionally, many women used local materials, such as straw and old clothing, to construct shelters, creating a sense of safety and protection for their families from natural elements.

Displaced women have become the primary source of emotional stability and social cohesion for their household. Sixty-three percent of displaced women play a vital role in rebuilding emotional stability for their families, consistently helping household members adapt to difficult conditions. While these percentages reflect women’s self-reported experiences. Although indicative, the finding could be further validated through follow-up field visits in future research. Additionally, 71% of women actively participate in resolving family and community disputes acting as peace mediators who help prevent tensions from escalating. Despite pressure, women maintain strong social networks that directly enhance household cohesion. In the study area, these networks take on culturally meaningful forms such as weekly coffee gatherings, where women meet to talk, exchange experiences, and learn from one another. Older women share practical knowledge and coping strategies, which younger women adopt in navigating displacement challenges. In some camps, women also strengthened social cohesion by agreeing to share a common food table, which not only reduced the daily struggle to secure meals but also reinforced solidarity, community support, and collective resilience.

Women further help restore a sense of normality for children and dependents by maintaining routines, offering emotional care, and prioritizing household stability.

Displaced women, 25, shared her experience:

Economic hardship prevented me from enrolling my child in school, and I felt helpless. Every day my child would say, ‘Mama, I want to go to school and learn,’ which deeply saddened me. I approached neighbors in the adjacent area to borrow some books and began teaching my child at home, ensuring he continued learning and alleviating his feelings of missing out on education.”

Displaced women play a critical role in helping children cope with the emotional and psychological impacts of conflict, offering reassurance, emotional comfort, and a sense of stability.

Displaced women, 29, explained:

My 10-year-old child experienced night terrors and intense fear during the conflict. I stayed by his side, talking to him and sharing calming stories. With (further) support from a local organization in Al-Abasyia that runs psychosocial programs for displaced children, I was able to help him regain a sense of security. Over time, he began sleeping normally and even started playing, showing clear signs of psychological recovery.

 

Walking through challenges: The Struggle of Displaced Women supporting their families

Displaced women in Al-Abasyia face multiple challenges that complicate their ability to sustain their family’s resilience economically and socially. Financial hardships remain the most significant barriers according to 70% of women, reflected in limited start-up capital and, in many cases, the loss of the small savings they had initially managed to secure. Even when women succeed in generating income, it is often consumed by urgent household needs, especially food and healthcare. Therefore, some women particularly small-scale market vendors are forced to repeatedly stop their income-generating activities, creating a cycle of starting, losing, and restarting work, which deepens economic instability and psychological stress.

Some women also struggle to sell handmade products due to limited market demand and reliance on home—based selling, which results in unstable and insufficient income.

The lack of training, capacity-building opportunities, and access to essential working tools further restricts women’s ability to cope effectively with conflict. Around 90% of displaced women reported not having received any formal or informal training related to crisis management, stress coping, conflict resolution, or sustainable livelihood development. The remaining 10% were mothers of children affected by trauma, received brief sessions from the Eve organization for development, aimed at supporting their children’s psychosocial resilience. This leaves most women rely on personal experience, which increases emotional stress and weakens their ability to consistently provide psychological and social support for their families. Moreover, many women experience significant psychological stress due to the heavy responsibilities and long hours of work to support their households. Furthermore, about 16% of displaced women reported cultural barriers, rooted in traditions and social norms that prevent them from working in public spaces such as markets. This percentage is lower compared to pre-conflict times, as displacement has imposed new realities and urgent needs.

Women working in agricultural fields face extra challenges, particularly long distances to the farmland. Many expressed fears of traveling to remote areas due to intimidation and threats from armed groups (SPLM) as a result of proximity of farmlands to near to their positions. While no official harassment cases were recorded, some recounted being chosen by some individuals, forcing them to leave the fields. Other received threats, causing psychological distress. The police station in Al-Abasyia documented two women killed in fields by unknown armed actors after questioning about clan members, highlighting the targeted risks for displaced women in conflict areas. Consequently, some women have stopped agricultural altogether, negatively affecting both their families’ economic stability and overall social well-being.

 Focus group discussion with displaced women in Secondary School camp, Al-Abasyia, November 2025.

 

Recommendations

To strengthen family resilience and support displaced women in their vital roles, a series of targeted activities is recommended to empower women, strengthen household resilience during the conflict.

  • To address economic barriers, Social Welfar Office in Al-Abasyia, civil society organizations such as Eve organization for development, and Nawat al-khair, in addition to international organizations (IOM) are encouraged to provide skills training in income-generating activities and financial literacy for displaced women. They should also offer small grants or revolving funds to help women start or sustain businesses. Additionally, provide raw materials for women producing handcrafts, helping reduce production costs, and supply tools and equipment for women producing food items such as sweets, pastries, whose equipment was lost during the conflict. Facilitate weekly community savings groups to allow women to pool resources and access funds for urgent family needs or small business investments. Furthermore, financial mentoring sessions can strengthen women’s participation in household budgeting and spending depiction.

Civil society organization could organize periodic bazaars, where displaced women can display and sell their products, increasing their capital, and household income. These bazaars also create social interaction, helping women build new relationships and enhancing the psychological well-being of their families.

  • To address cultural barriers, Social Welfar Office in Al-Abasyia , and local organizations should organize family and community workshops or discussions to raise awareness about the vital role of women in strengthening family resilience and the importance of supporting them to overcome challenges.
  • To address social barriers, Save the children organization, Social Welfar Office in Al-Abasyia should provide educational programs for children, including scholarships, learning materials, and school uniforms enabling women to ensure their children continue learning during conflict and reinforcing their role as key supporters of household resilience. Additionally, train women in basic first aid and home-based healthcare, empowering displaced women to respond to health emergencies within the household.

Conclusion

Displaced women in Al-Abasyia play a vital role in sustaining their families during conflict, providing income, emotional support, and social cohesion. Despite facing economic, social, and cultural challenges, they adapt creatively to ensure household resilience. Supporting women through training, financial resources, education, and community programs can strengthen their capacity to protect and empower families, highlighting their central role in fostering resilience and stability during conflict.

 

 

[1]. Patel, S., Rogers, M. B., Amlôt, R., & Rubin, G. J. (2017) “What do we mean by ‘community resilience’? A systematic literature review of definitions”. PLOS currents: disasters. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/pmc5693357/


OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
cedejsudan (5 février 2026). Women and Household Resilience during Conflict in Al-Abasyia, South Kordofan, Sudan, 2023-2025, Social and Economic Dimensions. Researching Sudan - A perspective on contemporary Sudan. Consulté le 12 février 2026 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/15mr9


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