Over the past four decades the cities and towns of Sudan have experienced dramatic population growth. Urbanisation has occurred in a context of poor governance, decreasing job opportunities, deepening social and economic insecurity and conflict-induced displacement. Growing numbers of poor and vulnerable urban dwellers live in abject poverty, are vulnerable to a range of daily protection threats and face acute challenges in relation to access to livelihoods, basic services and land.

Presenting case studies from Khartoum, Juba, Nyala and Port Sudan, this meeting series by the Humanitarian Policy Group at the Overseas Development Institute explores the phenomenon of urbanisation and its drivers in different parts of Sudan, and analyses its social, environmental and economic consequences, with particular attention to urban livelihoods, as well as infrastructure and the provision of basic services. The findings suggest that current international humanitarian and development approaches are not yet geared to respond to urbanisation’s challenges, with the focus predominantly being on assisting rural communities. As a result, the urban poor in Sudan have been effectively left to fend for themselves – largely forgotten by the government and the international community alike. 

City limits: urbanisation andvulnerability in Khartoum and Juba

Tues 25th January 2011

City limits: urbanisation and vulnerability in Nyala

Friday 18th February 2011

City limits: urbanisation and vulnerability in Port Sudan

Date tbc