Understanding Markets and Trade in Darfur

The ‘Understanding Markets and Trade’ project is monitoring and tracking trade in Darfur, Sudan, a context of violent conflict and deep humanitarian crisis. The project is researching how trade in general, and trade in agricultural and livestock commodities in particular, has adapted, positively and negatively, to the nationwide war in Sudan. It explores how trade is interlinked with the conflict, and the implications for social cohesion.

The project aims to:

  • Deepen understanding of how the war is impacting food security and livelihoods in Darfur and how those affected can best be supported through market-oriented interventions by humanitarian and development actors;
  • Inform conflict-sensitive programming by humanitarian actors.

The project approach is based upon listening to local voices and capturing local knowledge.


Understanding Markets and Trade in Darfur Publications

This material was produced as part of the Cash Consortium of Sudan Enabling Environment Programme, an innovative programme led by Mercy Corps and funded by FCDO that provides multipurpose cash assistance and market support to conflict-affected populations across Sudan.

Impact of the War on Market Institutions and Functions in Darfur

Understanding markets and trade in borderland areas: The impact of the April 2023 war on trade between Sudan (Darfur) and Chad

Impact of Sudan’s war on cereal production and trade in Darfur: Implications for food security


Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises (SPARC) Publications

This material was produced as part of the Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises (SPARC) research programme, which ran between 2020 and 2025. These Issue Briefs were originally published on SPARC’s website https://www.sparc-knowledge.org.

Darfur’s Long-Distance Trade: Impact of war and Rapid Support Forces’ trade embargo

The Impact of War on Trade and Markets in Darfur: Destruction, resilience and adaptation

The War Economy in Darfur: Distorting trade and fuelling conflict

Market Monitoring and Localised Research in Extreme Conflict: Learning from Darfur