The session began by introducing the wider context of markets, prices and local value chains in Sudan, including the effects of insecurity, delayed imports, rising transportation costs, shortages of essential goods, fuel and fertilizer price increases, and currency depreciation. It then revisited the four dimensions of food security and demonstrated how market prices, purchasing power, distribution, transportation and price stability influence whether households can consistently access sufficient and nutritious food.

The webinar examined market access constraints caused by conflict, infrastructure damage, inflation, weak consumer demand and import restrictions. Particular attention was given to logistical and supply-chain barriers, including disruption of traditional trade routes, rising fuel and transaction costs, price volatility and increasingly fragmented markets.

Participants were introduced to the concept of a local value chain as the network of people, businesses and activities involved in producing and delivering products and services within a particular area. Practical value-chain examples were provided for groundnuts, sorghum and vegetables, illustrating the roles of producers, input suppliers, village merchants, aggregators, wholesalers, retailers, processors, transport providers and consumers. The webinar also discussed other important Sudanese value chains, including livestock, sesame, gum arabic and hibiscus, together with their opportunities and risks.

The second part of the session focused on practical market disruptions, including high transportation costs, reduced agricultural market access, rising prices and their impact on household purchasing power, nutrition and agricultural production. Challenges faced by smallholder farmers, pastoralists, traders, consumers and humanitarian actors were also examined.

The webinar then presented examples of existing responses, such as digital marketplaces and mobile-money systems, producer associations, community-based seed systems, women- and youth-led enterprises and collective export arrangements. CARE Sudan’s interventions in agriculture, livelihood diversification, business grants, value addition, food processing, irrigation, finance and cooperatives were also introduced.

The final section translated these market challenges into possible business opportunities. Examples included community food baskets, solar-powered cold storage for vegetables and milk, urban farming and intensive horticulture, food-processing cooperatives, mobile grain milling, community kitchens, solar food drying, digital marketplaces linking farmers and buyers, livestock-feed production, and poultry and egg production.