Displaced by war, young Sudanese turn to entrepeneurship to survive

As the civil war in Sudan enters its fourth year, a generation of young professionals is finding their career aspirations shattered by the relentless violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. With formal employment markets collapsing and over 14 million people forcibly displaced, many are turning to grassroots entrepreneurship and informal trade as a desperate, yet resilient, means of survival. This shift represents a profound transformation in the Sudanese social fabric, where the pursuit of professional ambition has been replaced by the immediate necessity of securing daily sustenance.

The Collapse of Formal Livelihoods

The economic landscape of Sudan has been decimated since the conflict erupted in April 2023, leaving the vast majority of the population in a state of extreme poverty. Recent data indicates that the share of households reporting no employment or income has surged from a negligible 1.6 percent before the war to approximately 18 percent, while full-time employment has been cut in half. This systemic failure has forced highly educated individuals, such as medical laboratory scientists and teachers, to abandon their professional trajectories in favor of survival-based micro-enterprises.

The human cost of this economic erosion is staggering, with international organizations estimating that the percentage of the population living in extreme poverty has climbed to 59 percent as of 2025. For young Sudanese, the loss of formal jobs is compounded by the destruction of infrastructure and the constant threat of displacement. As families are forced to flee from cities like Nyala and Sennar, they lose not only their homes but also the social networks and institutional connections that once facilitated their professional growth.

Entrepreneurship as a Survival Strategy

In the absence of a functioning labor market, entrepreneurship has emerged as a quiet, necessary strategy for resilience. Individuals are increasingly turning to home-based services, artisanal crafts, and small-scale trade to generate the income required to support their families. These ventures, while often small in scale, provide a vital lifeline in an environment where traditional banking and institutional support systems have largely ceased to function.

The consequences are not confined to Sudan. They are destabilising the wider region.

Despite the ingenuity shown by these young entrepreneurs, the barriers to entry remain formidable. Aspiring business owners face a lack of access to capital, complex and often predatory tax requirements, and a total absence of the institutional guarantees required by banks. Without formal support, many of these initiatives remain trapped in the informal sector, limiting their potential for growth and long-term sustainability.

The Humanitarian and Protection Crisis

The struggle for economic survival is inextricably linked to the broader humanitarian catastrophe unfolding across the country. With an estimated 15 million people displaced and hundreds of thousands killed, the war has created a protection crisis that disproportionately affects women and girls. Systematic sexual violence and the weaponization of food and healthcare access have made the simple act of working or seeking a livelihood a dangerous endeavor.

International aid efforts, while significant, are struggling to keep pace with the scale of the devastation. While programs like the International Labour Organization’s i-UPSHIFT initiative have provided training and mentorship to hundreds of young people in regions like Kassala, these interventions reach only a fraction of those in need. The international community’s pledge of $1.5 billion in aid highlights the severity of the situation, yet the ongoing insecurity continues to undermine recovery efforts.

A Future in Flux

The long-term implications of this conflict for Sudan’s youth are profound, as the disruption of education and professional development threatens to hollow out the country’s future workforce. As the war continues to destabilize the wider region, the resilience of young Sudanese entrepreneurs serves as a testament to their determination to survive amidst the ruins of their nation. However, their ability to transition from mere survival to sustainable economic contribution remains contingent on an end to the violence and the restoration of basic security.

Ultimately, the story of Sudan’s young entrepreneurs is one of forced adaptation in the face of an unprecedented crisis. While they continue to innovate and support their communities, the structural challenges posed by the war remain the primary obstacle to their success. Without a comprehensive peace and a commitment to rebuilding the nation’s economic foundations, the potential of this generation remains at risk of being permanently lost to the conflict.